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  1. Learn
  2. Roman History FAQs

Top Roman History FAQs

Here we have collected some of the most frequently asked questions about Vindolanda, Magna, Hadrian's Wall and the Romans in northern England.

Are all Roman forts built to the same plan?

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Although all had similar headquarters buildings, commanding officers residence, granaries and workshops, cavalry forts were much larger than those of the infantry, providing more space for cavalrymen and their horses. Only the largest forts had hospitals. The smallest Wall forts occupy little more than 3 acres – the largest was 11 acres.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Can anyone come along and dig at Vindolanda?

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As part of our research excavation we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and countries, as long as you are over 17 years if age (17 years old must be accompanied by an adult) and physically fit. More information is available in our excavate section.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Could the soldiers speak, read and write Latin?

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Latin was the official language of the army and evidence from the Vindolanda writing tablets suggests that the soldiers could write in Latin very well. In later years, and especially in the 4th century, standards declined.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Did soldiers return to the mainland once they had finished their military service?

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It all depends on the soldier and on where he came from there is evidence of both. Sometimes they had been away from their birth place for so long and they had married a local woman and so therefore wanted to stay where they were. Some soldiers were also given their pension in land and would settle their upon retirement. Often soldiers would settle together creating colonies.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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Did the Romans use slave labour to build the Wall?

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No, the Wall was built by the skilled Roman legionary masons, with thousands of auxiliary soldiers providing the labour and bringing the vital building supplies to the construction areas.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Did the soldiers have slaves?

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Yes, some did. It was dependent of their socioeconomic status. Higher ranking officer would have had slaves.We have evidence of slaves at Vindolanda from the Ink Writing Tablets.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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How did the men from Italy cope with Britain’s awful weather?

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Probably not very well, but only a tiny percentage of Roman soldiers serving in Britain came from Italy. The majority originated from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain. It is also now thought that the climate in Britain at the time was a little warmer - and wetter – than it is today.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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How did the Roman buildings become covered in grass?

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At the end of the Roman occupation the buildings were abandoned and eventually fell into disrepair. Windblown soil gradually started to cover collapsed buildings allowing grass and weeds to establish themselves and grow over the remains.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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How did the Romans get fresh water?

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There are lots of fresh water springs at Vindolanda towards the west of the site. The Romans used these and built water tanks to store the water and stone aqueducts to move the water across the site. They also used wooden water pipes to move water underground rather than on the surface. When the archaeologists excavate them today they are often still running! To learn more read our water pipes blog.

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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How large was the Roman Army?

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The numbers varied, but roughly half a million men served at most times in the army throughout the Empire – and Britain had more troops than any other province.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How long did it take to build the fort?

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The standard answer to this is about 2 years in stone, quicker if the fort was built in wood but the outer defences would have been constructed first and then the internal building would take place.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How long did people live?

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Depending on the time, occupation and wealth. The average for women in Roman Britain was 28. 52 for men.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How long was Hadrian’s Wall?

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When completed, nearly 74 English miles long, or 80 Roman miles, but with an extension of the system (without a physical Wall) down the Western coast for a further 40 miles. Hadrian’s Wall stretches from Wallsend in the east, through Newcastle-upon-Tyne and westwards to Bowness on Solway in Cumbria with the extension travelling to Maryport on the Cumbrian coast.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How many legionary soldiers were stationed on the Wall?

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Very few – the garrisons in the forts were nearly all auxiliary soldiers – infantry, cavalry and specialist troops like the Syrian archers at Carvoran. After building was completed, the legionary soldiers retired to their bases at Chester, Caerleon and York.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How many men were in a legion? How many in a cohort?

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5000 men = Legion
480 men = Cohort

Published: 13th March, 2019

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How much did a soldier earn in a week/month?

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Depending on the time, legionaries get basic 300 denarii a year, auxiliary slightly less, cavalrymen slightly more. As you move up ranks you receive more pay. Centurions are on 4,500 denarii per year.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Is there much of Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Frontier left to excavate?

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Little more than 5% of the Roman remains in the North have been examined so far and excavations will probably still be in progress in 200 years time! Excavation is a slow and expensive process, but modern archaeology and advanced techniques reveal far more about Roman life than was previously possible.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Journey times on roman roads and postal systems?

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Two postal services were available under the empire, one public and one private. The Cursus publicus, founded by Augustus, carried the mail of officials by relay throughout the Roman road system. The vehicle for carrying mail was a cisium with a box, but for special delivery, a horse and rider was faster. One reference states that a relay of horses could carry a letter 800 km in 24 hours. The postman wore a characteristic leather hat, the petanus. The postal service was a somewhat dangerous occupation, as postmen were a target for bandits and enemies of Rome. Private mail of the well-to-do was carried by tabellarii, an organization of slaves available for a price.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Was it a lonely life for the soldiers of the Wall?

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Far from it! There were probably more civilians living in the Wall zone than soldiers, and many were the families of the serving soldiers. As time went on, large numbers of the soldier’s sons would have joined up in their local regiments.

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Was spelt wheat grown around here?

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Yes as well as barley

Published: 13th March, 2019

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Were people living here before the fort was built? What would the local people have been doing?

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There is evidence of an Iron Age hillfort on Barcombe Hill behind the site and we know there were people here. We have not found any evidence of inhabitants before the Romans on the fort site but we do have 9 forts on top of each other and it becomes very difficult to get down to those first levels. The local people would have mixed which the Roman, some adopting their customs and trading with them.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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What did the surrounding landscape look like when the Romans arrived in this part of Britain?

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Similar to what it looks like now.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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What do you find the most often when excavating?

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The most common find at Vindolanda and on most Roman sites is pottery. It was used by everyone, it doesn't degrade easily in the ground and a lot of it was one use only like amphorae for transportation that would have been thrown away when empty. 

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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What does Vindolanda mean and how do you know that is what the Romans called this fort?

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Vindolanda means white lawns or white fields. We know that the Roman name for the fort was Vindolanda because of an altar set up by the civilians at Vindolanda to the god Vulcan which was found during drainage works in 1914. The altar is on display in the Vindolanda museum. The name Vindolanda has also been discovered on some of the writing tablets.

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 10th September, 2020

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