We know they had tents, sure; but who used them? As historical reenactors, what is it exactly that we are trying to reenact? Part of the answer is that we are just trying to all get together, and don't happen to have a proper Medieval city available with its homes, halls, laundry cellars, food markets, and defensible walls. What each of us does to make the best of that shortcoming is the rest of the answer.

A popular choice is the "What tent?" approach. Once up and out of it, one's own tent becomes as much a non-issue as would the home of any period Lord or Lady during a day of errands and a night of adventure. Out of site is out of mind.

This goes hand-in-hand with the "What do you mean; a tent?" approach. These folk see wattle and daub or hewn stone where others might see ripstop nylon; the tent represents a real home, and the campground a real town. Their ultimate expression is found in the temporary buildings and trailerable "wagons" and "ships" which make the dream easier for others to share!

The next crowd eschews all such guile, and straightforward says; "This is my tent." Here are found the Crusaders and Landsknecht in their canvas pavilions, the Roman soldiers in their austere leather barracks, the Mongols in their felt yurts, the nomads, and the gypsies. Such is the winter of their discount tent that they have moved on to more authentic kit. To them, the event is now truly an encampment, and their tent is, well, a tent!

Our last group sets up gi-normous canvas mansions crammed with furniture and decadent opulence, and proudly proclaims "THIS is a tent." Here we have our recreational campers. These folk are not living in a Medieval town or traveling with a Byzantine army; they are camping in high style! It is glorious, but how authentic is it?

The popular art of the time is a great source of information about the "SCAdian" period. If the same element can be found in illustrations by several different artists, then it was likely extant for them to see. The accompanying selection of Medieval paintings show several such elements that have been corroborated by other artists. Tables, ordered table settings, carpets, framed beds, stools, candle sticks, wooden chests; all appear to have qualified as camp gear by our predecessors.

These few period illustrations cover a lot of ground, showing camping with children, military encampments, competitors waiting their turn at a tournament, and a party of traveling nobility. Does any of that sound familiar? We already knew that our widely different camping styles were creative and anachronistic; how nice to find that some of them are also fairly authentic! Such illustrations can also provide much useful information for those who wish to be authentic in detail, as well as in style.