What did the ancient Roman children play with

We already know quite a lot about the ancient Roman civilization. This is helped by historical chronicles, and many archaeological finds. But the answers to some questions are still missing. For example, how did children have fun in ancient Rome? Especially those who had to live in military garrisons with their parents. As shown by the excavations of a Roman fort called Vindolanda, which was discovered south of the Adrian wall, such kids loved active games and happily ran around the fort with wooden swords.

Military toys

Vindolanda Fort is located south of the famous Adrian Wall. This 117 km long defensive fortification was built by the Romans under the emperor Hadrian in the years 122-128 in Northern Britain to prevent the attacks of the Picts and Brigants from the north. The garrison itself is located in modern Northumberland, England, but 2,000 years ago it was located on the northern borders of the Roman Empire.

It was here that archaeologists who unearthed the cavalry barracks this summer found two wooden toy swords, one with a polished stone in the hole. A team of scientists discovered toys after lifting stone foundations from a later reconstruction of the fortress. Under them, they found moist, black, anoxic soil, which created excellent conditions for the preservation of artifacts.

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of abandoned stables, living quarters and fireplaces of the military complex. In these rooms, the team found arrows, signs with text, leather shoes, combs and stilettos. In the next room were also two perfectly preserved iron swords, one with a curved tip.

Hostel Adrian

Vindolanda Fort was built at the end of the first century AD, that is, before the wall of Hadrian was built to strengthen the border between the Roman Empire and the unconquered British tribes in the north. Researchers estimate that more than 1,000 soldiers with several thousand women, children, slaves, and freedmen lived in the garrison.

The fact that such a motley company was in the fortress is evidenced not only by toy swords, but also by women's and children's shoes. At the same time, the barracks were certainly cramped and were probably clogged with “leather, rusty armor, sweat, charcoal and smoke,” as well as dogs and horses, archaeologists suggest.

Vindolanda is also famous for its collection of hundreds of handwritten postcard-sized wooden letters that archaeologists began to find in the 1970s. These documents are rare evidence of everyday life in the garrison: from requests for more beer and invitations to a birthday party to more bureaucratic issues such as work assignments and military promotions. The collection includes even one of the oldest examples of women's handwriting in Latin, in correspondence between the wives of two military commanders.