Tullie House has entered a second year of an exciting and collaborative international research partnership with Sapienza University in Rome. The partnership offers post-graduate students from the university long-term and uninterrupted access to the Roman collections at Tullie House, helping further their studies and increase knowledge of the internationally significant archaeology collections at the Museum.
Between January to March 2019 Tullie House have been host to 6 students who have been studying courseware from Bewcastle, Birdoswald, finds from Milecastle 48, Samian ware from Birdoswald and the interpretive approaches made by the museum in relation to Carlisle excavations.
The research opportunity has been supported by funders in both Sapienza University and the Italian government. In 2018 Tullie House welcomed four students over the summer. One of these students had a fully funded visit and another had secured funding from her region to return to Tullie House for a further 3 months.
Anna Smalley, Head of Collections & Engagement said; “It has been a pleasure to host such wonderful students and watch the unravelling of previously undiscovered stories in our archaeology collection. So far, the students have discovered that Samian Ware (the most commonly used high quality pottery from Roman Britain) was repaired with lead rivets, a technique found across the Empire and as far away as Egypt. Missing from the original excavation report, Roman lamps from Bewcastle are being examined with a view to be published.
Our ever-strengthening partnerships with Sapienza University, raises the profile of not only Tullie House but Carlisle on the international stage. We look forward to progressing the partnership forward and welcome similar relationships with other institutions across the world”
Representatives from Tullie House, including; Anna Smalley, Head of Collections & Engagement, Gabrielle Heffernan, Curatorial Manager and Elsa Price, Curatorial Trainee (Archaeology) will be visiting Sapienza University in March to attend a round table event hosted by Professor Emanuela Borgia. This visit will look to further enhance the relationship with the university and create an opportunity to share the research knowledge gained over the past year.
