For over three centuries, the inhabitants of North Britain faced the might of Rome, resulting in some of the most extraordinary archaeology of the ancient world.

Drawing on his on his extensive experience, John H. Reid considers many of the controversies surrounding Roman Scotland, several of which remain points of lively debate. From a reassessment of the loss of the Ninth Legion and the reasons for building and maintaining Hadrian's Wall, to considering what spurred at least four Roman Emperors to personally visit the edge of the Empire, he offers an informed view of what it was like to be at the dark heart of imperialism and slavery, and to be on the receiving end of Rome's merciless killing machine.

John Reid has had a lifelong fascination with Roman Scotland. He co-directed the Burnswark Project in Dumfriesshire, the ground-breaking archaeological dig of the only known Roman siege in Britain and has been Chairman of the Trimontium Trust in Melrose for the last 25 years. He has appeared on on BBC TV and radio and is a regular speaker at major archaeological conferences and has been published widely in the academic and popular press.