Fortified camps and ditches.

[paulgpotter]

Jim Storr in 'King Arthur's wars' discusses the hundreds of fortified dykes/ditches in Britian during the time period some of which were built by the Saxons. Would this justify an addition to the army lists of fortified camps and ditches for the early Saxons in England and the sub Roman British?

Graslund in 'the nordic beowulf' and Hedeager in ' iron age myth and materiatity' make mention of over 1500 ring forts having been found in Denmark, Sweden and along the baltic coast during the pre viking period. Several field battles mentioned in beowulf reference nearby fortifications. Would this justify the addition of fortified camps for the pre viking Scandinavians list?

[Rod]

Not saying it might not be reasonable, but the Saxon fortifications I think you are referring too are the burghs mostly made by Alfred as fixed defenses against the Vikings.

These were more like permanent military bases or small fortified towns, so not the same as for example a Roman marching camp thrown up on the trail. They were more significant "fortresses" that would in theory require a siege or equipment to take.

[paulgpotter]

Hey Rod, the ones mentioned by Storr are definitely post roman pre Alfred. The are in addition to pre Roman fortifications. Many such fortifications were reused in later generations.

[Rod]

But these are reused fortifications? So not a fortified marching camp.

I.e. they were large enough that the remnants of them survived the ravages of time?

[paulgpotter]

I think the authors point is that there were so many defensive dykes and ditches that armies made us of these to meet enemy armies. Plus some were built for battles or to interfere with the movement of enemy armies.