Vindolanda
I remember visiting Vindolanda as a child, and I am totally awestruck at how much more they have excavated on the site since then. Vindolanda is a Roman Fort and town near Hexham. It predates the building of Hadrian's Wall, and is constantly the source of new and exciting archaeological discoveries. It is particularly important to us, as it has close connections with Minimus, the Primary Latin Course, which was expertly illustrated by Helen Forte, my mother.
Amelia was really in her element here. She loves looking round interesting places, and this one has a bit of everything. She loved all the footprints of different buildings, and trying to work out which building we were in. She loved climbing to the top of the replica tower, and going over bridges. There is a beautiful river to sit by, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, just soaking in the history. The cafe within the visitor centre stocks an impressive range of hot and cold food, and there was plenty of choice for gluten-free options. The most exciting part of our visit for her though, was the museum. A mixture of textiles, coins, pottery, weaponry and art from the site are well presented. Amelia tells me that the coin collection was the best bit. For me, the incredible preservation of clothing and shoes is amazing, and some of the beautiful painted glass and jewellery is stunning. The tablet collection is very impressive, although a bit beyond Amelia's current interests. Still, we spent a good four or five hours at the site, and she (and we) had huge fun.
Amelia was really in her element here. She loves looking round interesting places, and this one has a bit of everything. She loved all the footprints of different buildings, and trying to work out which building we were in. She loved climbing to the top of the replica tower, and going over bridges. There is a beautiful river to sit by, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, just soaking in the history. The cafe within the visitor centre stocks an impressive range of hot and cold food, and there was plenty of choice for gluten-free options. The most exciting part of our visit for her though, was the museum. A mixture of textiles, coins, pottery, weaponry and art from the site are well presented. Amelia tells me that the coin collection was the best bit. For me, the incredible preservation of clothing and shoes is amazing, and some of the beautiful painted glass and jewellery is stunning. The tablet collection is very impressive, although a bit beyond Amelia's current interests. Still, we spent a good four or five hours at the site, and she (and we) had huge fun.
The excavations at Vindolanda, set in its stunning landscape, aim to unravel the mysteries of its nine Roman forts/towns and countless communities. It is a huge and complicated task which is undertaken by a dedicated team of professionals leading a veritable army of volunteers. Come and see what the archaeologists discover, the excavations rarely disappoint, and continue to provide some of the most stunning examples of Roman and early British material culture to come from nine forts and nine centuries.
The physical remains include some of the following:
Information from the Vindolanda website
The physical remains include some of the following:
- A large Pre-Hadrianic bath house and a beautifully preserved 3rd century bath house.
- Several commanding officer’s residences and barrack buildings
- A headquarters building
- 3rd and 4th century evidence of village houses and workshops, latrines, and a Roman Celtic temple to an unknown Romano Celtic God.
- The only temple to be found on display to a Roman god inside an auxiliary fort anywhere in the Roman Empire (Jupiter Dolichenus).
- A Post-Roman mausoleum and late Roman Christian churchReplicas of a Roman temple and shop, a Romano-British house and replica sections of Hadrian's Wall in turf timber and stone
Information from the Vindolanda website
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