The Roman Fort at Vindolanda: Shoes and other Fabulous Finds from the Roman Fron7er 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” Preserva7on at Vindolanda (without oxygen) Timber water pipes carrying fresh water across the site, ca. AD 105-120 Timber floor boards and supporFng beams, Occupaon Period IV, ca. AD 105-120 Lathe turned wooden box lid with detailed incised decoraon on both sides, ca. AD 100-130 Wooden box with contents sFll 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 ArFfacts: 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 Wring Tablets “The Birthday InVitaon” Claudia SeVera to her Lepidina greeFngs. On the third day before the Ides of September, sister, for the celebraon of my birthday, I giVe you a warm inVitaon 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 greeFngs to your Cerialis. My Aelius and my li[le son send him (?) their greeFngs. (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 Fron2er, 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 Dang Workshops DeformiFes and Podiatry Demography The “Lepidina” Slipper A wealthy woman’s shoe found in the “Praetorium”, the residence of the commanding officer of the unit staoned at Vindolanda, ca. AD 97-105 Several children’s shoes also found in domesc 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 fronFer: 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 ciFzens 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? .