Vindolanda (Chesterholm) Hadrian's Wall

Vindolanda has given us a fantastic insight into what Roman life in Northumberland was actually like.
The fort, which lies below Housesteads Roman Fort visitor information/site/attractions/castles-and-historic-sites/hadrians-wall/housesteads-roman-fort" Housesteads, was built in AD 85 some four decades before construction of nearby Hadrian's Wall accommodation and visitor information" /site/attractions/castles-and-historic-sites/hadrians-wall Hadrian's Wall began.
It was still occupied four hundred years later and its estimated that more than ten Roman forts were built on the site over the centuries.
Today you can see the remains of some of those forts including the ruins of bath houses and temples - but it is Vindolanda's superb museum and collection that really stays in the mind.

Here you can examine writing tablets found on the site which give us a fascinating insight into Roman life. Among those exhibited you'll see an invitation to a birthday party and inventories detailing the camp's needs.
The museem also contains a selection of the thousands of archeological finds that have been unearthed at Vindolanda over the years including shoes, stools, wagon axles and even tent pegs.
There are also some reconstructions of what life was like for those left at Vindolanda after the Romans abandoned Britain.
If you want to have a try at digging up some Roman treasures, Vindolanda holds regular digs and volunteers are welcome. http://www.vindolanda.com" Vindolanda website