Carpow (/kɑːrˈp/) is a diffuse hamlet in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is situated immediately to the east of the confluence of the River Tay and River Earn, 2 km north east of Abernethy.[1]

Carpow
Roman fort at Carpow
Carpow is located in Perth and Kinross
Carpow
Carpow
Location within Perth and Kinross
OS grid referenceNO203175
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPERTH
Postcode districtPH2 9xx
Dialling code01738 85
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°20′35″N 3°17′27″W / 56.343119°N 3.290949°W / 56.343119; -3.290949

Etymology

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The name Carpow is of Pictish origin.[2] The first element is *cair, meaning "fort, castle", and the second is *pol, meaning "(sluggish) burn" (c.f. Welsh caer-pwll).[2]

Archaeology

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Carpow is most notable for its archaeological remains. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers arrived in the area more than 8,000 years ago. Nearby Neolithic standing stones and circles followed the introduction of farming from about 4,000 BC, and a remarkably well preserved Bronze Age log boat dated to around 1,000 BC was found in the mudflats of the River Tay at Carpow.[3]

During Roman times the settlement was the site of a camp and fort, which was made of stone, signalling the intent to stay for an extended period.[4][5][6] An early medieval Picto-Scottish cross fragment once formed part the lintel of a well at Carpow House.[7][8]

Roman fort

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The Roman fort of Carpow was a Roman fortress situated at the confluence of the rivers Tay and Earn.[9] The fortress is known to have been occupied from the late second century AD until the early third century AD. The site of the fort has not been comprehensively excavated but it is believed to have served as a naval supply depot for Roman forces in the central lowlands. Its occupation also coincided with the campaigns of Septimius Severus in the area.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Ordnance Survey, Great Britain (2007), "Perth & Alloa", Ordnance Survey Landranger Map (B2 ed.), ISBN 978-0-319-22997-2
  2. ^ a b Simon, Taylor; Markus, Gilbert (2006). The Place-names of Fife (Illustrated ed.). Shaun Tyas. ISBN 9781900289771.
  3. ^ "Carpow Logboat - PKHT". 17 August 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Carpow".
  5. ^ "Carpow: Roman Legionary Fortress", Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: Canmore database, retrieved 21 October 2010
  6. ^ "Carpow: Temporary camp(s) (Roman)", Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: Canmore database, retrieved 21 October 2010
  7. ^ "Carpow: Cross slab", Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: Canmore database, retrieved 21 October 2010
  8. ^ Borland, J.; Fraser, I.; Sherriff, J. (2007), "Eight socketed stones from Eastern Scotland", Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 13: 107
  9. ^ a b The site record for the Carpow fort at RCAHMS
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See also

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