Normandykes
Normandykes site in May 2009 | |
| Location | Peterculter, Aberdeen City, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 57°05′06″N 2°16′59″W / 57.085°N 2.283°W |
| Type | Roman marching camp |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 1-250 AD |
| Periods | Roman Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Normandykes, Roman camp |
| Type | Roman: camp |
| Designated | 11 November 1964 |
| Reference no. | SM2478 |
Normandykes (Grid Reference: NO 830994) is the site of a Roman marching camp 1 mile (1.6 km) to the southwest of Peterculter, City of Aberdeen, Scotland. The near-rectangular site, measuring approximately 860 by 510 metres (940 by 560 yd), covers about 106 acres (43 ha) of the summit and eastern slopes of a hill overlooking the River Dee and the B9077 road further south. Aerial photographs for Normandykes have been archived between 1947 and 1976. The camp is about 6 miles (10 km), or less than half a day's march, north of the Raedykes camp. It is possible that the actual route taken would have entailed one day's march, over a route likely chosen to avoid the Red Moss, a virtually uncrossable bog near the present day village of Netherley.
Normandykes was first mentioned as Norman's Dyke and interpreted as a Danish Camp in 1795, but then corrected in the New Statistical Account of 1845 as Roman.
The camp was first excavated in the year 1935 by Richmond and MacIntyre; construction is thought to date to the Antonine or Severan periods.
The site is designated a scheduled monument.