The Roman Fort at Vindolanda: Shoes and other Fabulous Finds from the Roman Fron er The Roman Empire and the Roman Army
Copyright: Ancient World Mapping Center The Roman Empire and Britain
Britannia AD 43
Copyright: Ancient World Mapping Center Hadrian’s Wall
Vindolanda The Emperor Hadrian and Britain Hadrian’s Wall, constructed in the AD 120s The military forts on Hadrian’s Wall: Housesteads A “Milecastle” on Hadrian’s Wall
Photo: Britain Express The Roman Army on the Frontiers: The Fort at Vindolanda
Vindolanda Aerial View A ‘standard’ Roman military fort
VINDOLANDA, Period VII/VIII, AD 213, visible remains on site today
And what lies beneath in anaerobic soil
The larger timber forts from ca. AD 85-120 What lies beneath . . .
“Anaerobic” Preserva on at Vindolanda (without oxygen) Timber water pipes carrying fresh water across the site, ca. AD 105-120
Timber floor boards and suppor ng beams, Occupa on Period IV, ca. AD 105-120 Lathe turned wooden box lid with detailed incised decora on on both sides, ca. AD 100-130
Wooden box with contents s ll remaining inside, ca. AD 90-100 Ox skulls excavated from a pit dug in the floor of a large central courtyard building, ca. AD 220
Human skull, probably a “trophy head” displayed by the Roman army, from a fort defensive ditch, ca. AD 200 Roman Helmet Crest made of hair moss Metal Ar facts: Bronze, silver, Iron The Vindolanda Writing Tablets
The first le er found read: Infra-red Photography “I have sent you socks used to read the le ers and underwear” The Vindolanda Wri ng Tablets
“The Birthday Invita on” Claudia Severa to her Lepidina gree ngs. On the third day before the Ides of September, sister, for the celebra on of my birthday, I give you a warm invita on to make sure that you come to us, to make the day more enjoyable for me by your arrival, if you are present (?). Give my gree ngs to your Cerialis. My Aelius and my li le son send him (?) their gree ngs.
(second hand) I shall expect you, sister. Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper, and hail. Bowman, Alan K., Life and Le ers on the Roman Fron er, Routledge 1994 A man from Italy?
“… I implore your mercifulness not to allow me, a man from the continent and an innocent one, about whose good faith you may inquire, to have been bloodied by rods as if I had committed some crime.” (Tablet 344) Over 4000 Roman Leather shoes in the Vindolanda museum and storerooms
Leather shoe “uppers” Why Study Shoes?
Style and Da ng Workshops Deformi es and Podiatry Demography The “Lepidina” Slipper A wealthy woman’s shoe found in the “Praetorium”, the residence of the commanding officer of the unit sta oned at Vindolanda, ca. AD 97-105 Several children’s shoes also found in domes c spaces within the fort A fort and its vicus (settlement outside the walls) VINDOLANDA, Period VII/VIII, AD 213, visible remains on site today
Buildings in the vicus at Vindolanda The round houses at Vindolanda
A ‘native’ building style? Religion on the fron er: Jupiter Dolichenus I · O · M CETERISQUE DIIS·IMMORT· ET·GEN·PRAETOR· Q·PETRONIUS Q·F·FAB·URBICUS PRAEFCOH·I·I·I·I· GALLORUM EX·ITALIA· DOMO BRIXIA· VOTUM·SOLVIT PRO· ·SE· AC SUIS
CIVES GALLI ‘The Gallic ci zens DE GALLIAE to the goddess Gallia CONCO[R]DES and, in agreement, QVE BRITANNI the Britons’
Portable altars and statuettes to the matres, Epona, the Veteres and other deites of Germanic and Celtic origin Life in the fort and vicus: What is life like in this settlement?