Janet Dickson

Vindolanda is the site of a Roman frontier fort and post-Roman Christian settlements on Hadrians Wall between 74AD and the 9th century. Excavations remain live, uncovering truly significant artefacts, which have provided an understanding of everyday and military life here on the frontier. Among these, are the Vindolanda Letters, crude, wooden tablets covered in ink handwriting, proven to be the oldest surviving hand-written documents in Britain.

‘Vindolanda’ means ‘white lawn’ or ‘white field’ which refers to the pre-Roman landscape of the site, acid grassland with grasses and herbaceous plants. One of the most dominant of these is Agrostis capillaris, common bent grass which features prominently in this print. The discoveries and the layers of building, demolition and occupation are the themes of this linocut, while referencing the origin of the site as a ‘white lawn’, from which it derives its name.