This art sculpture in the form of a ‘fire ball’ pays tribute to the work of archaeologist Robin Birley, who directed the Vindolanda Trust and excavations from 1970-2001, and to celebrate his incredible find, in 1992, of over 350 Roman ink on wood writing tablets (letters) on a Roman bonfire site here at Vindolanda

The Roman cohort of the 9th Batavians had been burning their commanding officer’s correspondence before they left Vindolanda in AD 105. The bonfire had been lit but abandoned after a rain shower meaning that most of the tablets were singed but otherwise survived to illuminate our understanding of life on the Roman frontier.

The fire ball was designed and created for the Vindolanda Trust by Andy Gage and depicts cursive Roman writing from the tablets. The fire ball will be ceremoniously lit every year to commemorate the discovery of what is considered ‘Britain’s Top Treasure’.*

In the background is a replica of a Roman temple.

*From a signboard next to the sculpture