Vindolanda from the air. Photo by Vindolanda Trust.

NY 77056635 Vindolanda Roman Fort (G.S.) (1)

The fort measures 508ft north to south by 306ft east to west, and occupies about 3-1/2 acres. Built c.300AD and reconstructed 368-9; it superseded a second century structure, traces of which are discernible beneath the existing headquarters building. This was excavated in the 1930s, together with the North and West gates, and late consolidated by MOW. Indications of a Flavian fort, occupied from c.80 AD were also found underlying the vicus to the west.
The latest dateable material is a coin of Valentinian II, but sub-Roman occupation of the fort may have continued into the 5th century. Roman name Vindolanda. (2)

Scheduled. (3)

Resurveyed at 1:2500. The fort, generally, is in good condition, with the excavated features on permanent display. (4)

Work in 1967-8 in the vicus (NY 76 NE 100) west of the visible 3rd-4th century fort at Chesterholm (Vindolanda), located the east and south defences of at least two earlier forts, the earlier being Flavian and the later being ascribed in the absence of Hadrianic pottery to the mid-2nd century. Study of the air photographs suggests that the Flavian fort was 2-1/2 acres approx in extent and that the 2nd century fort covered slightly less than 1 acre at the southern end. Excavations by R E Birley. (5)

In 1969, further work was undertaken by Durham University Excavation Committee. The south gate of the 4th century fort proved to have been a simple passage and may have been wholly or partly blocked at a late stage, and had never been intended for wheeled traffic. The latest of 11 coins found was of Valens (c 370 AD). Examination of the west half of the sacellum of the Severan principia, which underlies the entrance to the Constantian building, revealed a hole over 3ft deep presumably for a sunken strong-room (see plan). An inscribed sandstone altar was found unstratified in the rubble at the south gate of the Constantian fort. (6)

Small excavations of the Pre-Hadrianic forts by R E Birley located organic deposits. These have produced considerable environmental evidence, remains of leather-working in a fabrica and several hundred fragments of wooden writing tablets. (7)

Vindolanda - the Roman fort at Chesterholm. Altar dedicated by the VICANI VINDOLANDESSES from vicus area. Vindolanda vicus may have continued, or replaced, a native Curia Tectoverdorum. The identification of this name is unknown, but it is apparently near Chesterholm. (8)

NY 770663. Henshaw. Vindolanda, Roman site, Chesterholm, listed under Roman remains. Scheduled no. 24. (9)

Anglo-Saxon material, post c.AD700 from Vindolanda. Also 'British' material. (10)

Sandstone building stone found in 1980 reused in the fort wall. In a recessed panel is a boar in relief with inscription above: VEXLA / LEGXXV / V FEC [Vex(il)la(tio) / Leg(ionis) (Vicesimae) V(aleriae) / Vitricus) fec(it)].
Triangular fragment at Chesterholm presumed also from fort [...] DEM [...] or [...] REM [...]. Another fragment also found in 1980 inscribed D. M. [c2] LIAE / [c5] IAE / [...]. (11)

Bronze military standard in form of a prancing horse discovered in early 1970's in civilian house outside fort. Only example from Britain.
Corner of possible workshop excavated. Bracken, straw and domestic and industrial waste suggest it may have been a 'fabrica'. Traces of urine and excreta may indicate tanning carried out.
Circular structures, possible millhouses, found at base of north rampart of Antonine fort. Four circular structures opened onto an alley. Flagged floors and remains of roof tiles found. (12)

[Plan of pre-Hadrianic timber forts (c.AD 85-125) and later stone fort] Two stone forts, the first probably built in later 2nd century; the second in later 3rd century.
Vindolanda developed in mid-AD 80s as timber fort of c.3.5 acres. Enlarged to c.8 acres ten years later.
Writing tablets found 1973-5, in south west corner of timber pre-Hadrianic fort built sometime in the AD90s. Majority of tablets from period AD95-110. The deposit contained bones, oyster shells, leather, jewellery, cloth and wooden implements. Probably a rubbish dump, near workshop [see (12) above]. (13)

Anglo-Saxon annular brooch from Chesterholm. Bronze. Unstratified. 6th/7th century. In Vindolanda Museum. (14)

Sub-Roman tombstone from Vindolanda found c.1878 commemorating Brogomaglos. Stylistically dated to c.AD500. Cannot be identified with St Briog. (15)

Excavation outside west gate of stone fort in 1992. [Slide]. (16)

NY 769663. Sandstone building stone, 0.29m x 0.22m x 0.15m, found in 1973 in field wall. Reads 'XVI' in lower right corner. Probably marked a batch at a quarry. (17)

NY 768663. Upper part of columnar altar, 0.18m x 0.25m x 0.10m, found in 1974 beside water tank at west end of vicus. Text reads: DEO/S VE/TIRI/POS/ [....Deo/s(ancto) Ve/tiri pos(uit)/].
NY 771662. Capital and upper portion of die of an altar, 0.15m x 0.17m x 0.08m found in 1974 in field wall south of south gate of 3rd century fort. Text reads: DEO VE/[....]N[.]/. (18)

NY 770663. Graffito on sherds at Vindolanda. (19)

Vindolanda writing tablets. [Report of work in 1972 and 1973]. 2m high turf rampart found on south of vicus. Faced with stone in secondary phase. [Description of writing tablets]. (20)

Four 2nd-3rd century gold-in-glass beads found, stratified in vicus. Date c.163-250. (21)

Inscribed stones: NY 769663, found in 1976, includes:
i) DEO/HVITI/ RI.VS, Deo/ Hviti/ri v(otum) s(olvit). 0.12 x 0.25 x 0.1m. Complete.
ii) ]ENECIO[. 0.35 X 0.34 X 0.20M. Building inscription from governorship of L Alfenus Senecio (AD205/7) from Severan fort. (22)

Lead sealing, 19 x 15 x 4mm, found in 1976 in vicus. Obverse stamped CVA.
Part of iron knife blade found in 1974 in vicus, impressed stamp ]IATI[.
Fragment of tegula found in 1976 near bath-house. Impressed stamp LE[... (Le[g VI V]?). (23)

NY 769663. Crude altar found in 1978 as a fallen stone from fort wall at north west angle, 0.12 x 0.23 x 0.11m. Inscribed ARAVI/TIRVM, Ara Vi/tirum.
Building stone, 0.4 x 0.18 x 0.2m found in 1979 reused in core of fort wall at north east angle. Two formalised trees, an inset panel, a phallus and letter: SESTD. (24)

NY 769663. Roman pottery sherds with graffito found in 1980. (25)

NY 771664. Part of first leaf of a bronze military diploma, 58.5 x 41 x 0.8mm found in 1980 in material covering demolished building on east rampart of fort. Interior text:
..... T AE[LIVS
HADRANVS ANTONIN]VS AVG PIVS P M [
TR POT VIIII IMP II] COS IIII P [P
EQ ET PED Q M IN AL ..] ET COH VIII ET SV[NT
Exterior text:
QVI EOR] NON HA[BER DEDIT ET CONVB CVM
VXOR] QVAS TVN[C HABVIS CVM EST CIVIT
IS D]ATA AVT CVM [IS QVAS POSTEA DVXIS
DV]MTAXAT SING[VLIS......
SEX] ERCV[IO CLARO II
CN] CLAVD[IO SEVERO ARABIANO COS
CO]H I TVN[GROR OO (?) CVI PRAEST
.] PATERNIV[S ....
[EX..... .
...] ANDIO[.....F. ....
DESC]RIPT ET [RECOGNIT EX TABVL AER
EA Q]VAE FI[XA EST ROMAE IN MVRO. (26)

NY 770663. Two circular bone counters, 19mm diameter, found in 1933. One cAD90-100 and the second AD80-90. Inscribed. (27)

NY 768663. South gate of the Period II, III and IV pre-Hadrianic forts examined. Period II gate: 3.2m wide single portal. Traces of timber angle turret found. 2000 fragments of ink-on-wood writing tablets found on re-examination of west part of timber building north east of gate. (28)

Helioserapis on a red jasper intaglio found at Vindolanda. (29)

Chesterholm - stone channel aqueduct supplied the site. Mansio and bath-house supplied by a well and fountain basin c.155m west of Domitianic fort. Also tanks to south - of three phases. Probably dates c.163-6. (30)

Analysis of textiles from Vindolanda. (31)

Cameo of Medusa in a gold ring, c.AD300 from Chesterholm. (32)

Chesterholm fort [Vindolanda?] Romano-British iron working site. 4th century. (33)

[Complete account of discovery of writing tablets with descriptions and photographs]. (34)

Around 30-40 fragments of face-urns from Vindolanda. (35)

Writing tablets have produced information on military diet and clothing. (36)

Vindolanda Roman Fort at Chesterholm survives as consolidated standing stone structures, earthworks and buried features. It occupies a platform 154 metres by 93 metres giving an area of 1.43 hectares. This fort (Stone Fort 2) was built in about AD 200-225 and overlies six earlier forts, including a stone predecessor (Stone Fort 1), located next to the Stangegate. Stone Fort 1 was built in the Antonine period and had an area of 1.61 hectares. It appears to have had a timber-built annexe, dating to about AD 180, which became part of the vicus (civilian settlement) when Stone Fort 2 was built. A stone-built courtyard building, with a bath suite, located within the annexe was originally interpreted as a possible mansio, but is now thought to be a commander's house. The sequence of five timber forts underlying the stone forts begins from about AD 85. The first fort was demolished in around AD 92. It was garrisoned by the First Cohort of Tungrians and was circa 1.5 hectares large. The second timber fort was larger, 2.8 hectares, and housed the Ninth Cohort of Batavians. The third timber fort appears to have been a refurbishment and was abandoned in around AD 102-3. After a short period of vacancy a new timber fort was built of similar size, but different layout; it was occupied again by the First Cohort of Tungrians and lasted until about AD 112. The final timber fort was built in AD 112 and lasted until around AD 150; the finesse of some of the buildings suggests they may have been built for the visit of the emperor Hadrian. Excavations of the Pre-Hadrianic forts have located a wealth of well preserved organic deposits due to the anaerobic conditions at the site. These have produced considerable environmental evidence, remains of leather-working in a fabrica and several hundred fragments of hugely significant wooden writing tablets. A large vicus, incorporating the earlier military bathhouse, and cemeteries were situated outside the fort. (37)

Excavations at the southwestern part of the last stone fort completed in 2005. The rampart walls and backing are proved to have fallen and been repaired a number of times since their original construction in the third century A.D. Excavation in this area revealed a new stone bearing an inscription reused, and a Post Roman building and subsequent human burial. Antonine and Severan phases of work were identified, in timber and stone phases respectively, as well as an initial west timber gate subsequently replaced by the other, stone, west gate. (38)

Site noted as supplied by a stone channel aqueduct, possibly to be dated slightly after the mid-2nd century AD. A number of other water supply features are noted within the area of the forts and the vicus settlement. (39)

Summary of work in 2007. Including evidence for three separate phases of occupation at the western margin of the site; an extensive magnetometer survey of the site in 2007-8 over 4.2ha included the stone fort the area to the north, and elements of the vicus to the west. The survey indicated a complex palimpsest of features and differential degrees of stone robbing. (40)

In 2009, two large altars were excavated side by side in the north-west quadrant of the third century stone fort. They were located inside a temple, or Dolichenum. One temple was carved with a relief of a god standing on a bull dedicated to I.O.M. Dolocheno by a prefect of cohors IIII Gallorum, and the other, now fragmentary, by a prefect of cohors II Nerviorum. A third, smaller altar, was found just outside the temple. (41)

Finds from the granaries of the Roman fort made in 2008 include a fragment possibly to be identified as part of a revolving waterclock or peg perpetual calendar. The 8cm bronze fragment is from a portable circular disc which it is envisaged complete would have been 25cm diameter with all the months of the year. The surviving part bears the punched lettering for the month September, a series of holes and the abbreviations for the start, fifth and thirteenth of the month, as well as for the autumn equinox. (42)(43)(44)

The fort has produced a range of artefactual material, much of this is inscribed on a range of materials, detailing the occupation of the site. These materials complement the well-known writing tablets. (45)

Ground penetrating radar survey of two areas at Vindolanda Roman fort was undertaken by Terravision. Three trial lines to the north-east of the fort and twelve profile lines in the north-east corner of the fort (referred to as South Field in the report) were collected in order to identify the north-west and north-east corner of the Old Antonine fort perimeter. Four profile lines were collected in the North Field in order to identify the perimeter of the old fort (HER 6675). The profiles in the South field identified the old fort ditch. Structures were also observed within and outside the Antonine fort. A possible clay horizon at 2m depth and no more than 0.5m in thickness was recorded across all the profiles which was interpreted as a clay layer laid down following the demolition of buildings by a new garrison and prior to the construction of the new fort. A 4m deep area of disturbed ground was interpreted as either a burial site, rubbish dump or agricultural reinforcements to firm up the ground. In the North field identified ditches and adjacent wide berms in areas where ditches were revealed in previous excavations. Various potential structures were identified and at the south end of the field an area of ground disturbance 30m wide and 2.5-5m deep was interpreted as being the result of recent farming activity. (46)

A polished done drop-spinning set was discovered at Vibndiolands durign the 2015 excavations. The artefatc was reported in Archaioelogical Aeliana (47)

Palaeoecological data retrieved from Vindolanda has helped establish the impact of Roman settlement on the environment around Hadrian's Wall. (48)

Additional reference (49a)

Reference on Vindoland writing tablets (49b-d)

The excavated exposed foundations of internal buildings and the fort defence structures are visible on air photographs. On the northern and southern perimeter of the fort defences, Iron Age hut circles have been excavated. (49e)

The remains of the first timber fort at Vindolanda lie several metres below the stone remains of later forts and therefore it is unlikely that further details of its layout will be uncovered. Pottery fragments consist of the only dating evidence for this first fort which are thought to have been cast into the ditch in AD 90 at the latest.

The second timber fort built on the site was at least 5 acres in size and was constructed directly on top of the first fort and extended to the west. Probably built a year or two after AD 90, evidence suggests that it was built hastily with poor quality timber.

A more permanent fort was built during AD 97, the occupation of which lasted until AD 105 when the fourth timber fort was built. This fort is said to have been larger than its predecessors and was extended further to the west.

Occupation of the fourth fort lasted until circa AD 120 when the fifth timber fort was built. Less is understood about this structure however, since the foundations of later stone buildings destroyed much of the timbers.

In around AD 160 a stone fort, known as Stone Fort 1, was built. During excavations of 2005-2006, however, it was revealed that Stone Fort 1 was in fact the second phase of a mid-second century turf and timber fort. Built during this phase of the site's history was a highly elaborate principia, along with various other ornate buildings in the extramural area. The western ditches were also later backfilled to make room for further timber buildings.

During the Severan period, most of the internal buildings and the south wall of Stone Fort 1 were demolished to allow for the construction of a group of circular stone huts. These were demolished in AD 211, leaving a relatively levelled site for the construction of Stone Fort 2 in circa AD 212. Evidence suggests that this final fort at Vindolanda may have taken several years to construct. It is presumed that this phase must have ceased soon after AD 400 however it is currently unknown when occupation ended.

This publication includes plans and photographs of the excavations and finds.
Please see source for further detailed information. (49f)

This is the website for the Vindolanda Trust. It contains current information regarding ongoing excavations at Vindolanda as well as visitor information.

In 2009 the Vindolanda Trust was allocated nearly £4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The grant will enable the development of a new gallery space and education centre at England's largest World Heritage Site. (49g)

Vindolanda is marked on a 1:25,000 scale map of Hadrian's Wall published by English Heritage in June 2010. See map for details. (49h)

The AD 410 website marks the 1600th anniversary of the end of Roman Britain in AD 410. The ongoing excavations at Vindolanda are noted on the Other Events/Projects page. See website for details. (49i)

This website contains information on the sites along Hadrian's Wall, including Vindolanda Roman fort. See website for details. (49j)

Depiction in the James Irwin Coates Archive of the north-east portion of wall of Vindolanda (1877). (49k)

Six months of excavation have taken place at Vindolanda each year since 1999. Detailed examination of the rampart mound and fort wall revealed that the fort had initially been constructed with timber and earth defences. When the stone wall was added, the gate was moved. Inadequate building led to several major collapses of the stone fort wall. The remains of the north-west wall of the fort were located, and the position confirmed that the modern line of Stanegate was not the original route because a fort ditch must have been sited at this point. Aerial photography and magnetometer survey suggest the original Roman line lay some 50 metres further to the north. The south fort wall also showed evidence for repeated rebuilds, especially in the south-east corner where insufficient building had again resulted in a slip 0.5 metres southwards, causing a latrine to collapse, probably before the end of the third century. (49l)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (49m)

General association with HER 6605 (Roman cemeteries), HER 6633 (Vindolanda Vicus), HER 6632 (altars), HER 6634 (Vindolanda Bath House), HER 33165 (ridge and furrow), HER 33139 (Vindolanda bath house), HER 33196 (tramway), and is referred to by HER 12391 (Stanegate). (49)