In Britain, the Roman era began in 43 CE and lasted through 410 CE. The Romans failed to conquer all of Scotland: in 122 CE, the Romans constructed Hadrian’s Wall as the northern boundary of the Roman province, and in 140 they constructed the Antonine Wall somewhat farther north. Scotland was a frontier zone. Parts of lowland Scotland were occupied three times for a period of only 50 years.
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh has a number of displays regarding Roman crafts in Scotland.
Stonemasons
When the Roman army invaded Scotland it brought with it specialist stonemasons who were involved in the construction of key buildings, such as forts, headquarters, bathes, and the commandant’s house. These stonemasons also carved sculptures and inscriptions.
Leatherworkers
The invading Roman army used leatherworking specialists and mass production to meet its needs for leather good, not just shoes and clothing, but also tents and other items.
Woodworkers
The Roman army included specialist carpenters who had their own workshops and used a wide variety of specialized tools, usually made from iron. According to one display:
“Roman carpenters spent as much time on building and maintenance as they did in making wooden objects.”
Roman Agriculture
The Romans brought some new agricultural techniques to Scotland, but these were not adopted by the native peoples. Shown below are some of the Roman agricultural tools.