Roman Temporary Camp

Roman temporary camps (castra aestiva) were standardised, fortified enclosures constructed by Roman legions. They were built to provide defensible overnight camps for legions on the move during campaigns (marching camps), during sieges (siege camps), or training (practice camps). Over 40 temporary camps have been identified in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall, many believed to have been camps used by troops involved in construction of the Wall, and some possibly created as practice camps during military training.

The design of temporary camps were highly standardised; They were rectangular with rounded corners ("playing-card shape"), surrounded by a V-shaped ditch (fossa), a rampart made from the excavated earth (agger), often with a wooden palisade. The camps usually had four gates. The central area, with the commander's tent (praetorium) acted as a focal point, with 'streets' laid out in a grid system for orderly layout of tent by units.

These temporary camps could be built rapidly, often 3–6 hours, depending on the terrain. The entire legion worked on their construction, lead by engineering specialists .