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Legionary camps in the desert
#1
While attending my first event at Fort Douglas Day in Salt Lake City, UT, a member of the public asked a really great question. I was explaining that a Roman legion erected a marching camp every night while on campaign, and was asked how this was done in desert climates, where wood is scarce.
All I could reply was that I didn't honestly know, and that he asked a great question. So, I'll pass his query along to you guys: what is the evidence that deals with how a Roman legion erected a marching camp in areas with very little trees to chop down? The closest thing I can think of is that they took the necessary materials with them on their pack animals, but even this seems cumbersome and inefficient.
Take what you want, and pay for it

-Spanish proverb
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#2
I think that they may well have created a camp very much like we see at Masada with stones and small rocks as small revetments to support the mounds of dirt from the ditches. then they would fasten together 3 stakes in the form of a caltrop and place these ontop of the mounds.
Brian Stobbs
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#3
http://www.123rf.com/photo_8101374_excav...esert.html
John Kaler MSG, USA Retired
Member Legio V (Tenn, USA)
Staff Member Ludus Militus https://www.facebook.com/groups/671041919589478/
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#4
A temporay overnight marching camp does not require wood to build. As Brian stated, the terrain and geology depicted how a camp was built. Basically the same principal with minor alterations.
Kevin.
Kevin
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#5
I may be wrong here, but I am fairly sure I read someplace (in the sources) that sometimes, when it was expected that wood would be scarce on the way, appropriate wood would have been carried by the soldiers and servants for the camp on the march... Darn, I have to try and find that quote.
Macedon
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#6
Many thanks, guys!
Take what you want, and pay for it

-Spanish proverb
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#7
Dear old Polybius records that legionaries carried 'apparently regularised' branches, where the tine's were all on one side and supposedly planted in difficult ways such that they could not be easily removed; let alone the 'later' 'pila muriala' that could possibly have been tied together to make large 'caltrops' as above, as opposed to the classic pictures of a palisade of stakes.

In either case, it certainly seems that all temporary camps are formed by just digging - any 'spiky bits' having been brought with the. No trees required. Smile
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#8
Ancient Sources on the Marching Camp:


http://www.ludusmilitis.org/index.php?topic=135.0
John Kaler MSG, USA Retired
Member Legio V (Tenn, USA)
Staff Member Ludus Militus https://www.facebook.com/groups/671041919589478/
Owner Vicus and Village: https://www.facebook.com/groups/361968853851510/
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