Hi all! Been a while since I posted a pic, so I thought I'd do a little conversation-starter here. Let's see a picture of the coolest/most fun find you've made at Vindolanda.

Attached is one I dug up in June '04, working with Sandy. This was just below the foundation blocks of a 3rd C home in the vicus not far from the reconstructed gates. A completely intact votive terracotta lamp. Still had part of the wick inside it. At the time, Robin said it was the first fully intact one pulled up in a generation.

It now sits proudly in the Museum. And I humbly tell everyone I see there that I found it. Never mind that it was more by luck than by judgment. We were going down a spade's depth, and I just missed the edge of it. One inch closer, and it would have been 75 small fragments of a votive terracotta lamp!

I know, it's no wooden postcard. But there's always '07... or '08.... or...

- Harry

:rolleyes: Hi Harry

Do you remember the Forster clan who you spent a week with back in 2003 (the Wow moments!)? Well, I have been back each year with various clan members and missed you each time (accident or design you may ask).

As far as cool finds are concerned, all finds are equal but some are more equal than others (or is that animals!!). Anyway, Colin and I (witnessed by Anthea) did find between the paving stones inside the west wall of the stone fort, a rather nice gold ring. Not all that useful from an archaeological point of view, but undoubtedly a WOW moment.

Picture is attached. Now I can remember my username I may contribute to your site more often.

Dave Forster (head of Forster Clan).

Dave! Of course I remember Clan Forster. And I salute you on 3 years of artfully dodging my arrival each summer. :lol: It's nice to see that the Vindolanda bug bit you and Colin that first year as well.

That ring is gorgeous. A definite WOW moment by any standards! (Where's Rosie for final confirmation of this?) Thanks for the post!

When are you back up this year? I have Child #1 on the way in 2 1/2 months, so my plans are up in the air. But I'm trying to get back for at least a week, probably in July. Daddy's got to buy his girl some proper digger kit from the Olde Country, after all.

Look forward to hearing more from you. And Colin too, if you can persuade him to post. I'd love to reminisce about the great "speed archaeology week" of '03.

- Harry

My apologies if I manage to foul this up or break some rule but this is just about pushing my computer skills to the limit! I've been looking at this new site with interest and have been meaning to add something for a while - it's a great idea!

So I'm attaching my favourite find - hopefully in the right place and hopefully with a picture that looks OK and is not too big! If not I'm sure that Harry will sort it out.

My favorite find is the attached cavalary javelin found I think in 2004 in an early 2nd century level if my memory serves me correctly. Almost pefectly preserved and I think in the museum.

The picture is also interesting for the blue deposit on the javelin which is Vivianite this is an Fe(11) phosphate compound which is regraded as diagnostic of anaerobic conditions i.e. no oxygen. The orange on the underlying stone is rust or Fe(111) oxide. Anyone wanting the full information on vivianite just has to ask!

Hi,
I don't find much, so am best aimed at some large and obvious target like a fort wall! Consequently I was very pleased to unearth this last year. It's always so exciting to see any find emerging from the earth for the first time in a couple of thousand years or so, but to see the writing on this one made it all seem very human and personal. It was found near an oven set into the rampart of the fort wall. I guess someone decided to scratch his/her[??] name onto this "best" pot.

Two absolutely fabulous photos! The javelin is a real work of art, and nothing brings the site home like someone's own name etched in a prized possession.

Great stuff,
- Harry

Hi Harry

Coolest find tonight was a 2003 photograph of you and my boys. I'm digging next week, so I will post my coolest find of 2007 then (what ever it is).

Dave

Hi Dave! Wow. 2003.... I can't believe that was 4 years ago now.

But I'm bummed--I couldn't open the PDF file to see the picture. I was looking forward to seeing what a young whippersnapper I was back in the day.

- H

Harry and Dave, The pdf file was corrupted, so I converted what I could to a jpg file. Hope that helps,

Sion

Fabulous! Ah, back in the day. Still can't believe that's going-on 4 years ago now. Back when I thought Northerners sounded Scottish... and Justin sounded Welsh. :D