The main objective of the building protective sheds during medieval sieges was to protect the besiegers approaching the fortress. Frequently tactic was to undermine the walks or fill up the moats and then shed proved to be extremely useful by shielding engineering and sappers troops during a combat operation. A simple and an inexpensive construction enabled constructing directly on the site of the combat several sheds which were joined together in a form of a long passageway leading the attackers directly to the besieged target. The roofs of the protective sheds were covered in branches or hides and sandbags as a protection from projectiles thrown upon the assailants, so they were a safe shelter for a large group of warriors.

Chronology: from the antiquity to the 16th century.