Have you ever searched for an object only to find something else that jogged your memory of a past event? Exploring Vindolanda’s wooden collection causes a similar reaction. It evokes memories of past events and offers a link to our heritage. Find out which memories our team dug up, and what links were made to our ancestors.
You can access a paper in Science Direct dedicated to the Digging Up Memories Project here.
At Vindolanda, water played a vital role in the life of the fort. Water related objects sparked memories of childhood, past excavations, summer holidays and much more. Go and explore. Read more
Could you manage without plastic? How would you transport food and goods? There’s nothing new about buying from outside your immediate area: the Romans had well established trading routes throughout the Empire and beyond. Read more
How much equipment does one soldier need? As well as fighting men, the soldiers at Vindolanda were engineers, builders and craftsmen, and they used many tools that we would recognise today. Read more
Not all details are immediately visible when an artefact comes out of the ground. Occasionally features only reveal themselves once an item has been cleaned and dried. Names, patterns and even items hidden within others, all spark connections, triggering a variety of responses. Read more
Some things have not changed much in the last 2000 years! Even now, we comb our hair, fight nits, stir our porridge with a spoon, and children cannot resist playing with toy swords. Read more
We would love to hear from you. Tell us about your favourite wooden items in the Vindolanda collection. Share your thoughts and memories with us! Read more
Find out more about 3D scanning and why Vindolanda's wooden artefacts are so well preserved. Dr Andrew Birley and Dr Rhys Williams give an insight. Read more
Alongside the exhibition three specialist, Dr Rob Sands, Dr Andrew Birley and Barbara Birley will give virtual talks about their work with the wooden collection. On site at Vindolanda, there will also be activity days in October and November to find out more, get hands on and make your own connections with the wooden collection. Read more