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Ballistaria in first to mid-third century Britain: a reappraisal

The Cawthorn encampments in North Yorkshire (FIG. I) have found wide publication as ‘practice forts’ with attendant construction camps following their investigation by the late Sir Ian Richmond in the 1920s. The fundamental reason for his interpretation of Cawthorn as the site of military manoeuvres rather than as a normal fort site was its alleged unsuitability for permanent occupation coupled with apparently unfinished defences. However, it has recently been postulated that Camp D, the most regularly laid-out of the four, represents an auxiliary fort. This suggestion does not contravene the evidence; indeed, Camps A and B (the secondary enlargement of A) need no more be connected with manoeuvres than Camp D. One of the major objections to their being regular forts is based upon the presence of ballistaria. Richmond used these as proof that legionaries rather than auxiliaries were involved at Cawthorn; certainly, it seems that the auxilia were not equipped with artillery in the first and second centuries a.d., SO that artillery-platforms at this date should indicate the presence of legionaries. The conclusion that the encampments are not regular forts but practice-works is reinforced by the fact that none of the ballistaria is situated at a strongly defensive position. Thus, the application of Richmond's hypothesis to Camps A and B appears to be sound. Nevertheless, it represents the only evidence that the Romans ever built forts specifically for practice. Although practice camps are abundant both in the archaeological record and in the literary sources, nowhere are practice forts attested.