The British Pompeii

"Wow". That is what I said to the museum attendant when I exited through the gift shop. The museum must count as one of the best I have seen. They have samples of all the artefacts found on the site, there are so many that they can't display them all. The conditions at the site are such that organic remains have been preserved which include many that are unique in the world. Amanda would have been particularly interested in the array of intricately worked leather shoes and boots. Russ has already mentioned the wooden and wax writing tablets, of which there are over 1400 found so far! 300 of which were found at the bottom of a bonfire that was set when one of the administrations moved on. There are also a lot of tools that are unchanged to this day: hammers; trowels; spades; etc. All still with their wooden handles intact. Wooden locks with metal keys. Pens. Leather clothes. Textile clothes, with the pattern still visible. Even a wig made of local hairmoss, which was good to keep the midges away. We could do with some of those, I think I will tear at a tussock tomorrow and weave one together.

Anyway, here's some pictures I took in the five hours at Vindolanda today for all the 'beardy weirdies' amongst you. (Not the three artefacts, they are from t' Internet).