A Roman wine dipper that was unearthed at Auldearn near Nairn
The Romans' influence over communities in the north of Scotland will be explored in a special one-day conference in Inverness.
The guest speakers will draw on discoveries of Roman artefacts made in the Highlands and Moray.
Coins, a wine dipper and a dolphin-shaped brooch are among the relics.
Dr Fraser Hunter, principal curator of the Roman and Iron Ages at the National Museum of Scotland, will deliver the key note lecture at Friday's event.
The conference, Moving beyond the Frontier, external, will mark the opening of a new exhibition of Roman Iron Age objects at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
'Exotic bling'
The programme also includes presentations from Dr Alex Woolf, of the University of St Andrews, curators from the National Museum of Scotland and Inverness Museum, archaeological conservators and illustrators.
The experts will tell of links forged between Romans, who travelled to the north of Scotland by sea, and tribal communities along the coast of the Inner Moray Firth.
A Roman piece called the Raigmore Cairn Headstud Brooch
An Inverness Museum spokesman said: "As well as sharing up-to-date evidence and research for growing evidence for interaction between Highland tribes and the Empire, including a real insight into prehistoric politics and Iron Age elites' likings for exotic bling, the conference will explore the foundations for the later Iron Age development of a Pictish powerhouse in the north.
"Dr Alex Woolf will close the day with a lecture that examines the mighty and rising power of the Kingdom Fortriu around the Moray Firth in the 7th-8th Centuries."
Roman coins have been found in the Highlands
An illustration of a bribe being paid to a tribal leader at Belladrum
The study of the Romans' influence in northern Scotland has gained increased importance following the discovery of Roman coins at Belladrum Estate near Beauly in 2009.
Excavations led by Dr Hunter between 2010 and 2013 recovered a hoard of 36 Roman denarii from the 2nd Century.
Archaeologists believe the money may have been a bribe paid to a local tribe.
Dr Hunter previously led a dig at an Iron Age site at Birnie, near Elgin, where Roman items were unearthed.
Other Romans finds made in the Highlands have included the wine dipper at Auldearn, near Nairn, the dolphin brooch from Slackbuie in Inverness and a piece called the Raigmore Cairn Headstud Brooch.
Items have also been uncovered at Culbokie, Dornoch and Petty.
The one-day conference in Inverness will explore the far reaching influence of the Roman Empire
- Published5 July 2013
