The valleys of the Dee and Don carried Roman armies deep into north-east Scotland. Camps around Aberdeen reveal repeated campaigning rather than the growth of a permanent Roman town.
Amazing fact
At Kintore, rubbish pits and ovens preserved evidence of the food prepared by Roman troops during their temporary occupation.
Why this area mattered
River valleys provided movement corridors from the coast into the interior. Large temporary camps allowed armies to halt securely while scouting, gathering supplies or preparing for the next march.
Roman places near you
Normandykes
A large camp near Peterculter overlooking the Dee route.
Kintore
Several camps and detailed excavation evidence reveal repeated Roman use of the Don valley.
Deeside route
Other camps mark movement inland and connect with wider debates about the northern campaigns.
What can you see today?
These sites are subtle in the modern landscape. Museum collections, excavation reports and aerial plans help make their scale and purpose intelligible.
