The writing tablets, excavated from the Roman fort at Vindolanda in northern England, beginning with the earliest fort AD 85 and terminates AD 97-102 after a short hiatus, and begins again in AD
104 and takes us to about AD 120. Then begins again between the years AD 120 and 130.The deposit at Vindolanda contains a mixture of letters and documents, personal and administrative, which were deposited as the area in the central southern sector of the enlarged fort was rebuilt or re-occupied in successive phases.
While the depth of material would be a treasure trove for historians, even a casual arm chair buff would find the information a rare look into an ancient past, while expertly compiled and presented, is of interest to all who seek keys to our past.