A community archaeological dig is set to get underway in Carlisle.
The award-winning Uncovering Roman Carlisle is set to return to the city’s Roman Bathhouse at the cricket club to discover more of the remaining mysteries of the site.
The dig at Carlisle Cricket Club will take place between tomorrow, Saturday May 11 and Saturday June 15. So far 700 volunteering slots have been taken up, thought to be by around 300 people.
The paint pigment Roman Imperial Purple – Tyrian Purple – was uncovered in 2023. The lump of soft purple substance has been tested with the support of British Geological Society and further analysis is ongoing with the Newcastle University.
Experts from Newcastle University showed it was organic and contained levels of bromine and beeswax – which almost certainly indicates it is Tyrian Purple, the colour associated with the Imperial Court in the Roman Empire.
The project is delivered by a partnership of Cumberland Council, Carlisle Cricket Club, Tullie, and Wardell Armstrong LLP.
The bathhouse is the largest known building on Hadrian’s Wall, with over 2,800 significant finds, and hundreds of volunteers having been offered over 2,800 volunteer places offered in past phases of the project since 2021.
It has won four awards, three archaeological achievement awards from the Council for British Archaeology and an award from the Society for Museum Archaeology for the 2023 exhibition. It featured on the most recent series of Digging for Britain with Prof Alice Roberts.
The site will be active and open to the public between Monday and Saturday of each week of the dig.
Tours of the site will be held between 10am and 3pm each day, groups over 10 are encouraged to contact the project via the website.
A small temporary exhibition will coincide with the excavation in the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre this month.
Finds include over 550 Roman coins from centuries of occupation, over 300 hair pins, Imperial stamped tiles (tiles literally fit for an emperor), North African-style vaulting tubes for roof construction, hundreds of stunning glass beads, gaming pieces and a rare Roman doll’s foot.
Significantly, 70 intaglios have been discovered in the drains. The carved gemstones probably dropped from Roman signet rings when the glue holding them melted in the bathhouse heat.
In 2023, two monumental and unique carved stone heads were discovered by a volunteer on their first ever excavation.
Limited spaces are available for volunteers.
No prior experience in archaeology is needed, just enthusiasm in learning about Carlisle’s past. Find out more at https://www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk/ and book directly at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/57552
So far, 460 school pupils are booked in to visit the site from schools all over Cumbria. Any school wanting to make a visit, can sign up at https://www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk/
