Vindolanda: A Roman Frontier Fort on Hadrian's Wall

Robin Birley was formerly the Director of Excavations at the Roman site of Vindolanda; he set out to excavate the fort of Vindolanda and its civilian settlements in 1970, taking over from his father Eric Birley. He has over 50 years of excavation experience on the site, over 30 of which have been as Director of the Vindolanda Trust. He now heads the Vindolanda Research Committee. This is, therefore, a book written by someone who knows the site very well.

Vindolanda is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain. The site has an area of organic materials, layers of turf and clay up to 40cm thick sealing in debris and cutting off surface water and oxygen; this has resulted in exceptionally good preservation. Remains found preserved in this layer include textiles, leather and wooden objects, as well as the Vindolanda Tablets, hundreds of writing tablets which, as Birley states, provide “brilliant glimpses” of everyday life in the late first and early second centuries AD. These ‘postcards’ gave the Romans living and working in this area a personality – who can fail to warm to a soldier begging his mother to send more undergarments?

The Rich History of Vindolanda

The book gives an account of the excavation of Vindolanda and the Birley family’s extensive involvement in this undertaking (Andrew Birley, the current Director of Excavations, is a third generation archaeologist at
the site).

The book works through the various stages of the historical excavation and development of the site, from land purchase, the setting up of the Vindolanda Trust and the battles with various public bodies like English Heritage, which Mr Birley says did not share his enthusiasm for digging things up.

The chapters take us from the Iron Age with speculation about pre-Roman occupation of the site, through to the discovery of the timber Forts and then onto the various placings of stone forts from the mid to late second century. The information in the various chapters is interesting, but the way in which is it presented becomes increasingly frustrating. Rather than having the finds from each period in table form for easy cross-referencing, they are simply listed throughout the text so you get a sense of déjà vu as you progress through the book.

Book Design Lacks the Excitement of the Site

The photographs, most of them monochrome, are disappointing and often several pages away from the passage of text referring to them. Views of trenches are a recurring theme. Much more interesting are photographs of some of the finds: the Vindolanda tablets with a short translation of the text; some stone alters with inscriptions; a wig made out of hair moss; and various items of jewellery and leatherwork.

I wonder why the publisher adopted the old fashioned approach of putting all the coloured photographs together in the middle of the book so you are constantly flicking back and forwards. There are also countless diagrams, but with very little annotation, which is unhelpful.

The books appears to be trying to be all things to all men, and I think it fails; there’s a mass of interesting information, but reading it is akin to pouring through the pages of an annual report. I suspect Mr Birley's familiarity with the site is the book's downfall – a more independent author might have explained things more clearly and taken a fresher approach to the collation and presentation of information.

I live close to Vindolanda and visit once or twice a year. It’s a ‘must-see’ for anyone visiting Hadrian’s Wall; I know from feedback from local bed and breakfast guests that it’s often a site they enjoy most of all. The fact that through the summer months when excavation is ongoing you may be at the site when an amazing discovery is made adds a frisson to any visit. The museum is wonderful; it never ceases to amaze me that the design of nit combs hasn’t changed since Roman times. It will be even better when the current expansion and remodelling is completed. It is an exciting and vibrant place, something you would never guess from reading this book.