Cawthorne Camp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cawthorne Camp |
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| North Yorkshire, England, UK | |
 Cawthorne Camp
Location in North Yorkshire
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| Coordinates | 54°18′00″N 0°47′53″W / 54.300°N 0.798°W |
Cawthorne Camp (sometimes spelled "Cawthorn") is an ancient Roman site in north-east England. It's located about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Pickering, in North Yorkshire. This special place has very well-preserved earthworks. These are old banks and ditches made of earth. They show the outlines of two Roman forts, one with an extra section, and a temporary camp built in a unique way.
These structures were built by the Romans around the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. This means they are nearly 2,000 years old!
What is Cawthorne Camp?
Cawthorne Camp is a fascinating historical site. It's not just one camp, but a group of different Roman military structures. These include two permanent forts and a temporary camp. The way they are laid out is quite unusual for Roman sites.
A Roman Training Ground?
Historians and archaeologists believe that Cawthorne Camp might not have been used for real battles. Instead, it's thought that these camps were built for practice. Imagine Roman soldiers learning how to build forts and set up camps. This site could have been their training ground, helping them get ready for real military missions. This idea makes Cawthorne Camp very special, as it gives us a peek into the training life of Roman soldiers.
Digging Up the Past: Archaeology at Cawthorne
Archaeologists have carefully studied Cawthorne Camp. They found clues that people lived here even before the Romans arrived. This means the area was important long ago. They also discovered traces of later homes called Grubenhäuser. These were small, sunken houses, partly dug into the ground.
In 1983, the North York Moors National Park took ownership of the site. This helps protect Cawthorne Camp for future generations to learn from and explore.
