Toy sword

Roman Toy Sword by Rhys Williams (Teesside University) on Sketchfab

Sons were encouraged to follow their fathers into the Roman Army and playing with toy swords would have been a popular pastime. This oak toy sword was found in 2017 in the living quarters of the cavalry barracks. It would have been played with around 120 A.D.

Digging up memories and making connections

It’s very relatable to how my children play now’. Sammy describes why the toy sword is her favourite object. How much time were Roman children able to devote to play?

Rhys’s memories paint a picture of mucking about with swords in his childhood and how he relates this to Roman play.

Further information

A successful year - Barrack excavation 2017

by Andrew Birley (CEO) and Gary Calland (Trustee)

‘What on earth was going on?’ Andrew and Gary have a conversation about one particular dig in the living quarters of a Roman cavalry barrack. Why were seemingly important artefacts left behind? Find out more about the year Gary found the toy sword.

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Visit Roman Vindolanda today and you will find one of the North East’s most famous and not to be missed tourist attractions lying in the beautiful landscape of Hadrian's Wall Country. Formerly a key military post on the northern frontier of Britain, Vindolanda is the home of Britain's 'Top Treasure' - the Vindolanda Writing Tablets - and is one Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites, with live excavations taking place every year.
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Lying in magnificent countryside next to a sweeping section of Hadrian's Wall and based at the site of Magna Roman Fort, the Roman Army Museum is an authentic and dramatic tribute to Rome’s extraordinary military legacy. Step into the life of a Roman soldier and experience life on the front line of Emperor Hadrian’s formidable British frontier.
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