Africans at Vindolanda?

[mcbishop]

The site at Ain Sinu appears to be Severan though, like the Vindolanda huts and those at Guentis. Could be some connection? (although Mike's Khirbet-ad-Diyathe looks Diocletianic to me - can't find any information about it; does it go by an alternative name?)

Beehive houses (as they're known) can still be found in Syria (I photographed some inhabited ones outside Aleppo in the 90s but can't find my slides at the moment) and date back well before the Roman period, so they are not specifically Diocletianic (nor is there any guarantee that the ones at Diyathe -- also Diyateh -- are contemporary with the fort). I went inside one (incorporated into an outbuilding) at Bagdad [sic] Cafe 66 on the Palmyra/Damascus road and they are indeed very cool even in the hottest weather. Essential in Northumberland, obviously ;-)



Mike Bishop