The award-winning community archaeological dig Uncovering Roman Carlisle is set to return this month.
The excavation, at Carlisle Cricket Club, uncovered a Roman bath house – the largest found on Hadrian’s Wall.
So far, there have been 4,000 significant finds, which are evidence that the city has a very high-status monumental building, with a connection to the Roman Imperial family.
The dig will restart tomorrow, Saturday February 15 until next month.
The excavation will once again be able to provide free and easy access opportunities for Cumberland residents to take part in archaeology and heritage, or for groups, schools, and individuals to visit a live archaeological excavation.
As part of the pilot scheme to bring long-term unemployed residents in Cumberland back into the workforce, there will a two-week training dig.
A group of candidates have begun to train and learn about the basics of archaeology and tourist guiding.
The training is intended to use archaeology as a way of providing a number of transferable skills and raise customers awareness of jobs in heritage.
The candidates are being introduced to transferrable skills and knowledge connected to different parts of heritage. Archaeology provided by Wardell Armstrong LLP, Tourist Guiding by Cumbria Blue Badge Guide Tess Pike, 3D scanning and 3D printing objects with Eagle Labs in Whitehaven.
The programme has been supported by the DWP and will be enhanced by wrap around support from Inspira, and the Money Education Support Services to help candidates develop their CVs, interview skills, and support with managing finances and access to benefits.
The volunteers who are part of the programme are being trained at venues around Carlisle including Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, Carlisle Cathedral, and behind the scenes with the Uncovering Roman Carlisle team.
Five thousand people have visited the site, with more than 300 volunteers joining in between May and June this year to help.
Hundreds of volunteers have been offered over 3,000 volunteer places in past phases of the project since 2021.
Finds at the site include over 780 Roman coins, a large amount of painted wall plaster, arrow heads, spear tips, and parts of swords and daggers, Over 400 hair pins, Imperial stamped tiles, North African style vaulting tubes for roof construction, hundreds of glass beads, gaming pieces and a rare Roman doll’s foot.
Significantly, 74 intaglios have been discovered in the drains. These are magnificently carved gemstones which dropped from Roman signet rings when the glue holding them melted in the bathhouse heat.
In 2023, a sample of Tyrian Purple – a type of very expensive purple dye used for the clothes of the Roman Imperial Family, or in high status buildings was discovered, providing strong evidence for an Imperial connection.
Two monumental and unique carved stone heads discovered by a volunteer on their first ever excavation.
In autumn 2024, the foundations for a possible monumental building were discovered to the south of a Roman road where a Roman cremation urn was discovered, and a series of ritual sites and burials.
The dig is supported by Cumberland Council through the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Bookings at the dig can be made at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uncovering-roman-carlisle-february-dig-2025-tickets-1146844475699?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
