Photographs of Vindolanda

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The Roman army appears to have occupied the site of Vindolanda around AD 85, after the Governor, Agricola, had subdued the northern tribes. The fort guarded the central section of the vital east to west supply route, known now as the Stanegate. When the Wall was built approximately forty years later, Vindolanda took its place between Housesteads and Great Chesters as a fort close to, but not on, the wall.
The early forts were built in timber and required replacement every seven to eight years. The Roman army custom of laying down a clean cover of clay and turf over demolished structures before rebuilding has created perfect anaerobic conditions for the preservation of almost everything that has been lost or discarded at the time. This includes a vast range of leather goods, textiles, wooden objects, bronze and iron objects as well as the most highly prized slivers of wood, covered in spidery ink writing - the official and private correspondence of the men and women who lived at Vindolanda nearly 2000 years ago.
I think this is one of the best sites on Hadrian's Wall. The site is interesting and the museum is superb. They are still excavating and will be for years. Who knows what they will find.