The job of interpretation is made more difficult because we have virtually no written or epigraphic sources for most of these sites, and have to rely on archaeology to provide some clue to their nature and extent. Unfortunately, there have been very few major excavations on these towns, and in most cases we have to rely on the results of small rescue excavations for our interpretation. Despite this, we can make a number of general comments. The origins of these settlements are variable. A significant number probably started life as vici associated with military camps.
Most armies attract camp followers who sell services to the soldiers.
These itinerant traders may establish permanent settlements around army camps which continue to exist and develop, even after the garrison has moved on. Some sites may have originated within the pre-Roman Iron Age. The existence of pre- Iron age settlement and Roman round houses at the Roman small town at Baldock, for instance, suggests some degree of continuity. Godmanchester is a good example of such a site. It lies on Ermine Street and has provided evidence for a Mansio, temples, an aqueduct, bath house and a building which has been tentatively interpreted as a Basilica.