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Roman Heritage

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Europe, External Affairs and Culture – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:15 pm on 13 September 2007.

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Photo of Roseanna Cunningham Roseanna Cunningham Scottish National Party 2:15, 13 September 2007

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the preservation of Scotland's Roman heritage. (S3O-617)

Photo of Linda Fabiani Linda Fabiani Scottish National Party

Historic Scotland is in frequent discussion on our behalf with many people, including local authorities, private owners and international experts, about the preservation of Scotland's Roman heritage.

Photo of Roseanna Cunningham Roseanna Cunningham Scottish National Party

I welcome the bid for world heritage status for the Antonine wall. However, will the Minister reflect on the fact that Scotland's Roman heritage extends further north than the Antonine wall? She will be unsurprised by my continued insistence that the Gask ridge should have been included in the original submission for world heritage status, but does she agree that we should consider adding it to the bid? Further, is she as concerned as I am about the disrepair into which some Roman sites in Scotland can fall? Again, she will be unsurprised to learn that I have Ardoch fort near Braco in my Constituency at the forefront of my mind when I express that concern.

Photo of Linda Fabiani Linda Fabiani Scottish National Party

I understand completely the issues that exist in Roseanna Cunningham's Constituency. Unlike the continuous Antonine wall, the Roman installations along the Gask ridge consist of a series of individual sites, so it was decided at the time of application for world heritage status that they should not be included in the bid. I understand that the bid cannot now be reopened and will therefore go to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as being for the Antonine wall. We should find out the result of the bid next year.

There is no reason whatsoever why a further application cannot be made to UNESCO in relation to another site. The Antonine wall is part of Roman heritage across Europe, so why should Ardoch and Gask not be included in future? The private owner of Ardoch fort wishes to maintain it in private ownership and is working with Historic Scotland.

Elements of Roman heritage are either in state care or designated as scheduled monuments, in the case of the best preserved ones. We are talking about part of the international frontier of the Roman empire. I know that there is a strong campaign relating to Ardoch fort and the Gask ridge, and that it will continue.

Photo of Murdo Fraser Murdo Fraser Conservative

The Minister has had the pleasure, as have I, of meeting the Antonine Guard, who re-enact Roman encounters.

Photo of Roseanna Cunningham Roseanna Cunningham Scottish National Party

We have seen the pictures.

Photo of Murdo Fraser Murdo Fraser Conservative

I am sure that the Minister would join me in praising the Antonine Guard for its sterling work in keeping alive Scotland's Roman heritage. Is she aware of its campaign for a Roman heritage centre in Scotland? Is she sympathetic to that cause?

Photo of Linda Fabiani Linda Fabiani Scottish National Party

I am very aware of the Antonine Guard and I have the pictures, in which I look quite nice.

I am aware of the work that the people in the Antonine Guard do. The depth of their research is fascinating and amazing, and the passion with which they campaign for their ideal of having the site recognised and maintained is very much to be respected.

I have heard talk of the Roman heritage centre but I have not received a detailed submission.

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