Here is an impressive part of the wall that climbed up and down the crags close to Vindolanda fort. Its amazing to think that this wall stretched for 75 miles across the northern border of the Roman Empire in Britain, with small forts every mile and larger forts close as well. Emperor Hadrian clearly left his mark on the landscape - all to keep the barbaric Scots on their own side! Other reasons are also debated like Hadrian wanting to leave his lasting legacy, keeping his northern troops busy, and signaling to his own men that he didn't plan to keep extending the Empire, etc. Whatever the reasons, it makes for a great day out 2000 years later!
Here is our happy little family all gathered by this cool spot on the wall. If you look closely you can see the ghost of a Roman sentry standing on the wall watching for invading barbarians.
All five of the kids sitting on the wall. They really enjoyed hanging out again. We are really glad that Isaiah, Sophie and Emma got to know their little cousins this year.
Sophie walking along a pretty solid section of the wall. It still makes an impressive barrier!
Great friends, Peppi and Sophie. They spent much of the time walking hand in hand and talking about everything under the sun.
Don't know this guy's name (though I think he looks like a Phil). Anyways, Phil is an archaeologist at Vindolanda, which is still an active dig. Amazingly, while we were there one of the people unearthed this leather Roman sandal, which although it was still covered in mud, Phil said that it had the hobnail studs on the bottom that were used for grip on the slopes. Apparently thousands of artifacts have been found at Vindolanda, including many shoes, coins, weapons, domestic items, the earliest writing found in the British Isles (on thin pieces of wood), and even a woman's wig. Way to go, Phil!
This photo shows how extensive the site of the Vindolanda Roman fort and surrounding townsite actually is. There is still quite a bit of turf-covered area that still hasn't been excavated as well.
Here the kids are playing on the remains of a Roman floor. Interesting to see the way that the floor was constructed with hollow areas running underneath. Although I haven't researched it, I think that this was an early form of in-floor thermal heating. With a bath-house not far away, I think that the Romans probably learned to appreciate the finer things - like warmth in Scotland!
Isaiah sitting in one of the Roman rooms, near a stone basin.
Sophie and Peppi doing all the work for the slave-drivers in the chariot.
Here are all the girls posing by a headless Roman statue of the goddess Juno.
Here are Jennifer, Persephone, Patrick and Jeff enjoying the sunshine at the wall.
All five of the kids sitting on the wall. They really enjoyed hanging out again. We are really glad that Isaiah, Sophie and Emma got to know their little cousins this year.
Sophie walking along a pretty solid section of the wall. It still makes an impressive barrier!
Great friends, Peppi and Sophie. They spent much of the time walking hand in hand and talking about everything under the sun.
Don't know this guy's name (though I think he looks like a Phil). Anyways, Phil is an archaeologist at Vindolanda, which is still an active dig. Amazingly, while we were there one of the people unearthed this leather Roman sandal, which although it was still covered in mud, Phil said that it had the hobnail studs on the bottom that were used for grip on the slopes. Apparently thousands of artifacts have been found at Vindolanda, including many shoes, coins, weapons, domestic items, the earliest writing found in the British Isles (on thin pieces of wood), and even a woman's wig. Way to go, Phil!
This photo shows how extensive the site of the Vindolanda Roman fort and surrounding townsite actually is. There is still quite a bit of turf-covered area that still hasn't been excavated as well.
Here the kids are playing on the remains of a Roman floor. Interesting to see the way that the floor was constructed with hollow areas running underneath. Although I haven't researched it, I think that this was an early form of in-floor thermal heating. With a bath-house not far away, I think that the Romans probably learned to appreciate the finer things - like warmth in Scotland!
Isaiah sitting in one of the Roman rooms, near a stone basin.
Sophie and Peppi doing all the work for the slave-drivers in the chariot.
Here are all the girls posing by a headless Roman statue of the goddess Juno.
Once again, it was a great place to visit! See you next entry!
Jimy MacJohnson
Glad to see it isn't snowing anymore.
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