In the Netherlands, archaeologists from the Utrecht University have discovered the remains of a temporary Roman military camp built, probably in the II century AD. The uniqueness of the find is that the camp is located outside the northern border of the Roman Empire - about 25 km north of Limes, a fortified defense line, which took place along the Rhine River.
The found camp had an area of 3.6 hectares - a significant size for a temporary military base. Its form resembled a gambling map that was characteristic of many Roman military buildings. The territory was fortified: a deep ditch 2 meters deep and an earthen shaft 3 meters wide surrounded a camp with several entrances. Archaeologists estimate that the camp was only used a few days or weeks. He was probably an intermediate stop on the route to another base that could be reached in the course of a hike. The fact that the camp was located 25 kilometers from the official border testifies to the activity of Roman troops outside the empire. This indicates that the Romans did not perceive Limes as a rigid border, but rather as a control area that could be expanded as needed. According to historical sources, the Romans collected taxes from local tribes - including cattle and skins - and maintained military presence in these areas.
The camp was found thanks to the latest computer program that uses the data obtained from the Lidar - a special device for laser scanning of the earth's surface from the air. The program analyzes relief, potential routes of army movement, the presence of water, roads and characteristic forms of camps, which were usually rectangular. This camp became only the fourth temporary Roman military object found in the Netherlands. Its discovery greatly expands our idea of the geography and tactics of the Roman army, and demonstrates how modern technologies can help in the study of ancient history.
Only a few artifacts have been found in the camp, including a fragment of Roman armor. This confirms the hypothesis of the short period of use of the camp and the mobility of Roman soldiers who did not carry unnecessary property with them.
