The Hills of Peace Traditional Cache
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I found The Hills of Dunipace quite by chance when diverting off the motorway because of yet more road works. It’s just off J1 of the M876 to the East. There’s plenty of parking at the nearby cemetery that’s been on this consecrated ground since the 1200’s. It’s a short walk but the idea is come here and wonder about the history that surrounds this place. There’s an ancient part of the cemetery, walled off, where the head stone date back to the late 1700’s. You’ll need to walk a short distance across a field, please respect the crop if one is planted at the time you visit.
There is speculation about the etymology of this place name – alternatives proffered are; Hills of Peace after the Celtic word for hill, Dun and the Latin name for peace, pax, Duin-na-Bais or Dunas bas (pronounced pas), Celtic for hill of death but I prefer the idea of hills of pacts as a number of treaties were made here.
Three peace treaties were signed here between the Romans and the Caledonians, around 210 AD by Severus, another soon after by his son Caracall and a third in about 286 by Carausius. Weren’t they cool, those Roman names? I’ve never heard of any of them but I have heard of Edward the 1st who, here on the 14th Oct 1301 signed a warrant relating to the start of peace treaties with the Scots.
And, they seemed to have got everywhere but Robert the Bruce and William Wallace are said to have had a conference at the nearby chapel on the morning of the battle of Falkirk.
If you are really interested in the history of this place there’s plenty more to be found by a quick search on the web.
Apparently on a nearby similar hill when excavated for use for road building materials some ancient burial remains were found in a position equivalent to the flat top of the hills on Dunipace. Maybe some ancient chief lies just feet below the surface.
One quarter of the Falkirk Council crest is related to Denny and Dunipace. It shows the angel of peace above the bridge over the river Carron. It is appropriate with the idea of the name for the hills of peace nearby.
As the hills sit either side of a modern (very well used!) cemetery the name Hills of Death may be more appropriate after all.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Neo cebpg
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