Raedykes

Raedykes is the site of a Roman marching camp located just over 3 miles (5 km) NW of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. National Grid Reference NO 842902.[1] It is designated as a scheduled monument.[2] A marching camp was a temporary camp used mainly for overnight stops on a long route between more permanent forts, or as a temporary base while on campaign in hostile territory.

Raedykes Roman Camp viewed from the north.
Raedykes Roman Camp is located near Stonehaven, one of a string of Roman forts and marching camps in the northernmost area (Caledonia) of Roman conquest and presence in Britannia

The site

Raedykes probably dates from the late 1st century AD (Agricolan), though it has been argued that it could be Antonine (2nd century) or Severan (early 3rd century).[3] The camp rampart (vallum) encloses the summit and eastern slopes of Garrison Hill (191m 628 ft), a prominent spur overlooking the valley of the Cowie Water, a small river draining into the North Sea on the outskirts of Stonehaven. The camp covered an area of about 93 acres (37 ha), and a computer model suggests that this would have been sufficient to house three full legions, or around 16,000 troops[4]

The entire perimeter of Raedykes camp has been recorded, and is very irregular in shape, because of the terrain. There were six gateways of which five are visible, all protected by titulus outworks; two in the longest E side, one in the shortest S side, another in the N side and one more in the very-irregular SW side. The Mid Raedykes Farm lies inside the NW corner of the camp and Broomhill Farm lies just inside the E rampart beside the southernmost E gateway.

Raedykes is situated a day's march north from Stracathro fort (initially also a marching camp) and a few hours' march south of Normandykes.

History

The Roman army established a chain of forts and camps during the late 1st century AD at Ardoch, Strageath, Inchtuthil, Battledykes, Stracathro, Raedykes (probably), Normandykes, Glenmailen, Bellie, Balnageith and Cawdor. Many of these forts and camps were reoccupied during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus about a century later.

In the summer of 84 Agricola defeated the massed armies of the Caledonians, possibly led by Calgacus, at the battle of Mons Graupius. The area around Raedykes including nearby Kempstone Hill has been advanced by Gabriel Jacques Surenne and other scholars as the likely location for the battle in AD 83 or 84. The prominent hill called Bennachie, much further north, overlooking Inverurie near the Roman camp at Durno, is another potential site. However, there is no general agreement about the site of the battle, and no direct evidence to pinpoint it.

See also

References
  1. Landranger 45, United Kingdom Ordnance Survey Map, Stonehaven and Banchory, 1:50,000 scale (2004); Explorer 396, Stonehaven, Inverbervie and Laurencekirk, 1:25,000.
  2. Historic Environment Scotland. "Raedykes, Roman camp 600m NE of South Raedykes (SM1016)". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. J K S St Joseph 1958
  4. Roger J.A.Wilson "A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain" 2002 Constable, London p600

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