Military reports of this general type also occur in [156] and probably [157]. Both these texts are written along the grain of the wood, as is [155]. If the archaeological attribution to the earlier part of the 90s is correct (see the introduction to the ed. pr.), the number of men reported in the fabricae (343) should perhaps be compared to the total of 265 men of the First Cohort of Tungrians who were at Vindolanda and fit for service ([154]). This would suggest the presence of part of at least one other unit at Vindolanda in this period. This text may be compared with the daily reports in O.Bu Njem 1-62 and with ChLA X, 409, details of duties in a legionary fabrica of the second/third century AD. See also the discussion in Bishop (1985).
vii K(alendas) Maias fabricis h(omines) cccxxxxiii
ex eis sutores uacatxii
s[tr]uctores ad balneumxviii
[a]d plumbum uacat [
[a]d .ar.[
[..]..a[ ] ualetudinar[
ad furnaces [
ad lutum [
tectores [
...apil.[
ad cae[
[.]..b[
ad p.[
cum[
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"25 April, in the workshops, 343 men.
of these: shoemakers, 12
builders to the bath-house, 18
for lead ...
for ... wagons (?) ...
... hospital ...
to the kilns ...
for clay ...
plasterers ...
for ... tents (?) ...
for rubble ...
..."
In the ed. pr. we were unable to cite a certain parallel for h = h(omines); it can now be seen that it also occurs in [157].2, 3. Note, however, ChLA V 305 = P.Teb.II 433, where hom(ines) occurs three times in an account. Despite the fact that the word homo is attested with the meaning "workman" and "soldier" (TLL VI.3 2889.14, 43), Marichal doubts whether this account is a military or administrative document and suggests that it might be a writing exercise. The evidence of the Vindolanda texts should be sufficient to allay such doubts.
s[tr]uctores: cf. [156].3 which is sufficient to resolve any doubt about the reading here. See Marichal's note in O.Bu Njem, p.81, where he suggests that the word does not indicate a specialist craftsman.
a]d picari[am was suggested in the ed. pr. We now think that a]d kar.[ is possible and perhaps better. This would presumably be most likely to be a reference to wagons (cf. [343].ii.17-8, [316].2).
Perhaps a reference to the building of a hospital, cf. [156].2-3 (where hospitium = "residence"). The presence of such a facility at Vindolanda is clearly implied by [154].21-5.
In the ed. pr. we suggested that these might be kilns for firing clay. See now also [156].4, a]d lapidem flammandum.
lutum: cf. [156].5.
We now feel less dubious about reading ad at the start where the surface is very abraded (cf. our note in the ed. pr.), and it would match the entries in lines 4, 5, 8 and 11. If that is possible we might have papili[ones ("tents", see LS, s.v.II) to follow; for possible evidence of the repair of tents at Vindolanda see VRR II, 93-4.
cae[mentum seems likely in the context. Loose rubble is perhaps indicated, cf. Pliny, Ep. 10.39.4, quia sint caemento medii farti nec testaceo opere praecincti.