BR162

Roman Marching Camp NE of Maen Madog  

 

Designated  

Powys  

Ystradfellte  

292346  

216375  

Defence  

Marching Camp  

Roman  

The following provides a general description of the scheduled area. The monument comprises the remains of a Roman marching camp, probably dating from the conquest of Wales by the Romans in the first century AD (probably around AD 74 - 77). It was built as a temporary camp by a marching army as units of the Roman legions pushed west. The camp is a classic playing card shape in plan, measuring 390m E/W by 240m N/S. It is defined by a turf rampart 2m wide by 0.6m high, and an external ditch 0.4m deep. A clavicula entrance was identified on the S side when the site was first recognised in aerial photographs. The site lies in an area of conifer plantations, with the whole camp previously forested. The majority of the scheduled area has now been clear felled although the banks and ditch are not easy to distinguish. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Roman military organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider context of the Roman occupation of Wales and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.