The plural of canaba; civilian settlements and neighborhoods that developed around Roman military forts and camps.
From Latin 'canabae,' a word used by Roman writers like Tacitus. The origin is uncertain but may relate to structures or provisioning systems; the word specifically denotes the semi-official settlements outside fort boundaries.
Archaeologists love studying 'canabae' because they reveal the real, messy daily life of the Roman army—you find pottery, love letters scratched on tiles, and evidence of families living in these forbidden-but-tolerated zones outside the camp!
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