Traprain Law

Traprain Law is a hill east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It rises about 220 metres above sea level and covers roughly sixteen hectares at its widest. The site was first used for burial around 1500 BC and later became a fortified settlement. Excavations show ramparts rebuilt many times from the first millennium BC onwards. The hill is made of phonolite, an unusual rock formed about 350 million years ago. The hill is best known for the Traprain Law Treasure, the largest Roman silver hoard found outside the empire. Over twenty-four kilograms of sliced silver plate were uncovered in a single pit. The pieces include tableware, early Christian items and parts of a Roman officer’s uniform. Four late Roman coins date the hoard to the fifth century AD, after Roman rule in Britain had ended. Visitors walk up gentle slopes to the summit where stone ramparts still mark the Iron Age enclosure. The view stretches across East Lothian to the Firth of Forth. On clear days the Bass Rock and Berwick Law can be seen. The hill remains a landmark for local fishermen who still call it Dunpelder.