Abstract

The goal of this research project is to research, translate, and interpret a tablet found at Vindolanda, a Roman military outpost in northern Britain dating to the 2^nd century CE. This research is significant because the tablet, a letter containing a birthday invitation, reveals interesting information about handwriting and authorship in letters, and provides an intimate glimpse into the correspondence between two Roman women traveling with their husbands in the military in Britain circa 100 CE. My research is still in progress, but I will present my translation of the tablet and describe its cultural and historical context and significance. I began my research by examining the tablet and identifying and transcribing the text, which I will then translate into clear and idiomatic English. Then I can interpret the letter, written by two different hands. I anticipate that I will be able to report about author of the letter and why she did not write the entire letter herself, what this letter demonstrates about women in these circumstances, and the use of Latin in a personal correspondence, as opposed its usage in inscriptions or literary work. By the time of the event I will be able to provide a clear picture of this letter and its importance in learning about various aspects of Roman culture.