A group of at least 15 wooden writing tablets has been discovered in ancient wells at Izernore, eastern France. The tablets and other rare organic remains were beautifully preserved thanks to the waterlogged environment and low light and oxygen levels of the wells.
Four Roman-era wells were excavated in 2020 by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP). Archaeologists found wood objects at all stages of production, including offcuts from shaving and turning, blanks and finished objects like combs, pyxes (small boxes) and spindle whorls. The blanks and offcuts attest to a thriving local craft with particular emphasis on boxwood products. Ash, hazel and maple remains were also found. The region was known for its fine artisanal wooden combs well into the 18th century, so the blanks of the double-toothed combs prove they were locally manufactured for close to 2,000 years.
The writing tablets may also have been locally manufactured. There are many small fragments believed to have been manufacturing scraps, and one tablet that looks like a draft or template. Most of the tablets were single “leaves.” Others were hollowed out to have two opposing leaves on each side of spine for assembly into a codex. One is engraved with a word that may be a name. Another example has six lines written in ink. Archaeologists believe this was a reused tablet, as it is completely hollowed out. Those hollows were typically filled with wax to scratch on with a stylus. Ink tablets had no hollow.
The well excavations also unearthed two complete shoe soles made of maple wood. This style of shoe had two risers, one at the heel, one at the instep, that kept the wearer’s feet above the ground. The larger of the soles had small nails around the edge where leather pieces or straps covered the front of the foot. The smaller sole had a perforation for leather strap between the toes like a thong flip flop, plus an attachment point at the instep for another strap. Both of the shoes are small, intended for the feet of children of 6-7 and 4-5 years old.
These objects recovered from the wells were studied and analyzed by INRAP wood specialists. They have now gone on display at the Izernore Archaeological Museum in an exhibition dedicated to the well excavations.
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