Vindolanda: Roman Fort and Archaeological Site south of Hadrian's Wall

In 1914, while searching for a well 110 metres west of the fort, a worker found a sandstone altar that had been dedicated by the former inhabitants of the civilian settlement (vicani) to the ruling imperial house and the god Vulcanus. Its inscription revealed the ancient name of the settlement. The altar probably dates from the years between 223 and 225. The place name also appears in one of the Vindolanda tablets. It can be derived from Celtic. Vindo means white, but it can also be a personal or field name. The probably Latinized form Vindolanda could thus be resolved as White Fortress, White Shimmering Meadow, or House or Court of Vindo. The site is also mentioned in the two most important late antique written sources. In the Notitia dignitatum (late 4th and early 5th century) it appears as Vindolana between Borcovicio (Housesteads) and Aesica (Great Chesters). In the cosmography of the Geographer of Ravenna (7th century) it is found as Vindolanda, where it is listed between the entries for Camboglanna (Castlesteads) and Longovicium (Lanchester). In the records of antiquaries who had visited Chesterholm it is referred to as "Chesters on Caudley", "Little Chesters" and "The Bower".

Vindolanda is situated in the north of England, on the border with Scotland, in the hill country of the Pennines, in that part of the island where the distance between the coasts of the North Sea and the Irish Sea is shortest. It stood about two miles south of Hadrian's Wall, on its most scenic stretch, the Whin Sill ridge, near Hexham and Haltwhistle, some 40 miles from Luguvalium (Carlisle) to the west. The Roman fort, with associated civilian settlements and burial grounds, was immediately south of the Stanegate road. The latter connected Corbridge to the east with Carlisle to the west on the Cumbrian coast. The fort stood in the trough valley of the South Tyne, on the eastern edge of a 154 × 93 metre plateau, sloping gently to the south-west and 160-165 metres high, between the watercourses of the Doe Sike to the west and the Chainley Burn to the east. From there there was a good view of the densely wooded Allen Valley and the low mountain range of the Pennines. To the east the view was somewhat restricted by Barcombe Hill and the Cod Law Ridge to the north. The latter, in particular, obscured the view of the Whin Sills range of hills. This circumstance, however, was probably of no great importance to the builders, as the fort was mainly intended to secure the Stanegate road. The terrain was otherwise flat enough and, in particular, had a sufficient water supply for a larger garrison. The Bradley and Brackies Burns first join below the plateau to form the Chainley Burn, which in turn joins the south branch of the Tyne three kilometres away as the Bardon Burn. The archaeological site is now accessible via the A69 (dual carriageway between Carlisle and Newcastle). The nearest rampart forts were Vercovicium (Housesteads) 3km to the NE and Aesica (Great Chesters c 6km to the NW). In the late 2nd century the region was part of the province of Britannia inferior, from the 4th century of Britannia secunda.