Researchers beamed lasers onto Spanish countryside — revealing 7 Roman military camps

Researchers recently discovered the remains of multiple ancient camps built by the Roman army in Spain.

Found in the northwestern province of Lugo, the camps shed light on ancient military tactics, according to a study published by the Viladonga Castro Museum.

Because they were used only temporarily and built with perishable materials, the camps left little in terms of an archaeological record, researchers said.

But, using a combination of satellite imagery and Lidar — an aerial laser mapping technology — researchers were able to detect traces of the ancient encampments, including unnatural shapes in the landscape, such as rounded corners and straight lines.

Once observed aerially, these geographic anomalies were validated — with varying degrees of certainty — through direct research on the ground.

Through this process, a total of seven encampments were located in the municipalities of Cospeito, Friol, Palas de Rei, A Fonsagrada, Baleira, Castroverde and Riotorto.

Several of the encampments, including those in Friol and Palas de Rei, were rectangular in shape, measuring around 1,000 feet in length.

It is believed that the camps may have played an important role in the movement of Roman troops and lines of communication through Spain, according to La Razon, a Spanish news outlet.

Previously, dozens of Roman military camps were found throughout the country, indicating the “intense Roman activity” in the Iberian Peninsula, according to Live Science, an industry publication.

The Romans waged numerous wars of conquest in Spain, then called Hispania, eventually securing control over the territory during the reign of Caesar Augustus, who ruled from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D.

Researchers urged the Spanish government to protect the newfound encampments from being destroyed by human activity, according to La Razon.

Google Translate was used to translate a Viladonga Castro Museum study and an article from La Razon.

3,500-year-old shipwreck — one of world’s oldest — sank carrying items in hot demand

Ancient chocolate factory — built in 600-year-old building — discovered in Spain

Mountain creature — with ‘thin’ fingers — found lurking under rock. It’s a new species