Why is Vindolanda to the south of Hadrian’s Wall? Expand The first Vindolanda fort was built almost 40 years before the Wall was constructed and was part of an earlier frontier system called the Stanegate Frontier. Stanegate forts, forming part of this defensive system, were Magna (Carvoran) and Coria (Corbridge). With the building of Hadrian’s Wall these Stanegate forts were amalgamated into the new defensive system.
Why are the artefacts at Vindolanda found in such good condition? Expand A combination of factors aid the preservation and superb condition of the finds. The main aid is that the ground has anaerobic conditions, which means that there is no oxygen in the pre-Hadrianic excavation layers. Roman builders spread clay and turf over demolished buildings before starting new building programmes on a previously used site. This effectively ‘capped’ the underlying layer preserving everything left beneath it. Artefacts like leather, wood, textiles and writing tablets and metal objects survive in near perfect condition. After conservation they are stabilized and ready for research and display. At the higher Vindolanda levels the conditions are not anaerobic. The organic finds do not survive at this level and metals are highly corroded due to the presence of oxygen and bacteria.
Who was stationed at Vindolanda? Expand PERIOD DATE GARRISON MODERN COUNTRIES I c. AD 85 - 95 Coh. I Tungrorum Belgium II AD 95 -100 Coh. VIIII Batavorum Netherlands III AD 100 - 105 Coh. VIIII Batavorum Netherlands IV AD 105 - c. 120 Coh. I Tungrorum Belgium V AD 120 - c.130 Coh. I Tungrorum Belgium VI c.AD 140 -160’s Coh II Nerviorum Northern France VIA c. AD 160’s -200 Garrison unknown VIB c. AD 200 - 212 Garrison unknown VII c. AD 213 - 300 Coh IV Gallorum France VIII AD 300 - 367 Coh IV Gallorum France IX Post AD 367 Garrison Unknown X Post AD 410
Who used the bathhouse? Expand All of the inhabitant of the Roman Fort would have been able to use the bath house. We find evidence of women and children. Best example is the small baby shoe in the bath house.
Where were the tablets found? What are they made of? Where can they be seen? Expand The tablets are found on floor surfaces and pits in the Vindolanda pre-Hadrianic excavation levels. It is possible that any Vindolanda building of this date may have a discarded tablet lying in it. The remains of a major bonfire was discovered in the road outside the commander’s house in period III, AD97 to 105. The bonfire contained the charred remains of around 300 writing tablets. They were mainly the correspondence of the Commanding Officer, Flavius Cerialis. It is possible they were being burned before the garrison left to fight in the Dacian wars. The tablets are made of specially prepared birch and alder wood and the ink writing covers one surface with the address on the opposite side. They are about the size of a modern postcard and about 1mm thick. The tablets are conserved and photographed, with infrared photography, at Vindolanda. After initial research they are then sent to The British Museum in London for specialist storage. Vindolanda’s Museum has a comprehensive display about including 9 fascinating tablets on loan from the British Museum.
Where was coinage minted? Expand From all parts of the empire depending on the time period. Lots from Tier, Rome and even a few from London.
Where is the Wall? Where is a good viewpoint of Hadrian’s Wall? Can you drive up to Hadrian’s Wall? Expand The closest section of Hadrian’s Wall is about one mile north of the site as the crow flies. I would suggest visiting Steel Rigg, Cawfields or if you've purchased a ticket to the Roman Army Museum, you are right next to Walltown Crags which is one of the highest standing sections of Hadrian’s Wall. At Banks, to the west of Birdoswald the Wall is very close to the road.
Where did the name Britannia come from? Expand The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia (Scotland). Before the Roman invasion, begun in AD 43, Iron Age Britain already had established cultural and economic links with Continental Europe, but the Roman invaders introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanization, industry and architecture. Besides the native British record of the initial Roman invasion, Roman historians generally mention Britannia only in passing. Thus, most knowledge of Roman Britain has derived from archaeological investigations, and the epigraphic evidence lauding the Britannic achievements of an Emperor of Rome, such as Hadrian (r. AD 117–38) and Antoninus Pius (r. AD 138–61), whose walls demarcated the northern borders of Roman Britain.
Where did all the food needed come from? Expand Depending on the goods, much was grown locally. There is evidence from the tablets of a varied diet, including things like apples and Celtic beer. Evidence for a variety of meat including pork, venison, beef, chicken and even swans. Also imports like wine, fish sauce, olive oil and even pepper.
When was Vindolanda first excavated? Expand The Reverend Anthony Hedley excavated at the site in the 1830’s and built the cottage of Chesterholm which is now the museum building. The first more scientific excavations were carried out by Eric Birley in the 1930's. The Vindolanda Trust was established in 1970 with the aim of excavating the Vindolanda site for the education of the public and since then have continuously excavated the site for almost 50 years.
What were the walls and roofs of buildings made of? Expand This depends on the building and the date it was built. In the early timber forts the walls were made with wattle and daub which is a wooden frame with clay and mud. The roofs were probably thatched. In the later forts the walls are stone with slated roofs. Some buildings would also just have stone foundations and timber uppers. Thatched roofs would also be common in the later forts.
What was the expected length of service for a Roman soldier? Expand Legionaries and auxiliaries signed up for 25 years – marines in the fleet for 26 years. If a soldier was a valued specialist, he might receive an extension to his length of service.
What sort of signalling systems did the Romans use? Expand There were signal towers on Hadrian’s Wall which the Romans used to signal the other forts. The closest to Vindolanda was on Barcombe hill behind the fort.
What is the most valuable thing you can find on an excavation? Expand ‘Value’ to an archaeologist or historian has nothing to do with money, and the answer to the question depends on what kind of information is required. It might be an inscription on the stone, recording a previously unknown regiment or Governor of Britain, or evidence for the worship of a new god. At Vindolanda the most prized of all finds are the writing tablets as these rare Roman records give a unique insight into the thoughts of Vindolanda’s Roman inhabitants.
What does Vindolanda mean and how do you know that is what the Romans called this fort? Expand 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.
What did the surrounding landscape look like when the Romans arrived in this part of Britain? Expand Similar to what it looks like now.
Were people living here before the fort was built? What would the local people have been doing? Expand 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.
Was it a lonely life for the soldiers of the Wall? Expand 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.
Journey times on roman roads and postal systems? Expand 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.
Is there much of Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Frontier left to excavate? Expand 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.
How much did a soldier earn in a week/month? Expand 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.
How many legionary soldiers were stationed on the Wall? Expand 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.