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Scientific Research and Conservation

Augmentum is supporting a multi-year program of work at the British Museum investigating the Vindolanda Tablets.

The Vindolanda Tablets
The Vindolanda Tablets

As part of the continuing excavation of the Roman military fort and garrison settlement near Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland, more than 1,800 ink and wooden writing tablets have been excavated from the archaeological site of Vindolanda. The tablets are among the most iconic archaeological discoveries from Roman Britain and comprise one of the most important collections of ancient documents from the Roman Empire.


Part of the British Museum’s collection, the tablets occupy a primary place in the story of Roman Britain. The ambitious new project will apply the first systematic scientific investigation into the tablets and enable the Museum’s conservation and curatorial teams to ensure they are preserved for future generations. Key research outcomes include greatly improving knowledge of the tablets and aiding in the development of a new display within the Museum’s permanent galleries.



The Vindolanda Tablets

The British Museum

In 1753, the British Museum was founded by Sir Hans Sloane’s collection. Over 71,000 objects, as well as his library and herbarium – would be ‘preserved and maintained, not only for the inspection and entertainment of the learned and curious, but for the general use and benefit of the public’. Today, the Museum continues to function for the benefit of the public with the primary aim of holding a collection representative of world cultures for the benefit and education of humanity; as well as ensuring that the collection is housed safely, conserved, curated, researched and exhibited.

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