writing-tablet
- Museum number
- 1986,1001.34
- Description
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Wood writing tablet, with six lines of a report written in ink, concerning the fighting habits of the Britons.
- Production date
- 1stC(late)-2ndC(early)
- Dimensions
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Height: 93 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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'One is a fascinating by enigmatic piece, which is hard to classify. Its brief message shows a clear interest in the fighting characteristics of the natives, probably referring to their lack of armour, the presence of cavalry and the fact that they do not use swords or throw javelins from horseback.... Perhaps it is a memorandum left for a newly-appointed prefect by his predecessor or the comnander of a neighbouring fort to acquaint him with the local context.... Alternatively, it may be that local commanders were considering the suitability of Britons for recruitment into the local units' (Bowman 2003, 22-3)
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Writing-tablet with an intelligence report
Roman Britain, late 1st or early 2nd century AD
Vindolanda Roman fort (modern Chesterholm), Northumberland
Translation:
'... the Britons are unprotected by armour (?). There are very many cavalry. The cavalry do not use swords nor do the wretched Britons mount in order to throw javelins.'
This tablet describing the fighting habits of the Britons was probably a memorandum, perhaps left by a commanding officer for his successor. Despite the disparaging reference to Brittunculi ('Little Brits'), it may be that the document was an assessment of their potential for recruitment into the local military units.
- Location
- On display (G49/dc2)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2008 24 Jul-26 Aug, London, BM, 'Hadrian: Empire and Conflict'
- Acquisition date
- 1986
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1986,1001.34
- Additional IDs
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Excavation/small finds number: 85.032.a