Latest news with #UncoveringRomanCarlisle
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Carlisle archaeological dig discovers Roman column at cricket club
A section of a Roman column unearthed during an archaeological dig is just "the tip of the iceberg" of what could lie below the column was found by volunteers digging at the cricket club in Carlisle, where carved Roman heads, a rare dye and carved gemstones were previously recovered."It's got everyone excited, it gives an idea of the grandeur of this building - it's a beautiful object," said Frank Giecco, site director from Uncovering Roman Giecco said the group believed the site to have been a "ritual area", but it was not sure about its exact nature. The dig had only just returned to the cricket club for the summer and the column was found in its second week."It's early days - this is just the tip of the iceberg," Mr Giecco said."The people finding these things, it can make their year just to pull something out of the ground." The section of sandstone column is about 24 inches (60cm) long and 16 inches (40 cm) in to BBC Radio Cumbria's Mike Zeller At Breakfast, Mr Giecco said: "It's got everyone excited, it gives an idea of the grandeur of this building - it's a beautiful object." Volunteers also found a selection of bone objects such as a hairpin, spoon and a gaming set, believed to be about 1,800 years gaming set is made of pieces about the size of a penny, belonging to a game similar to draughts, and has a carving with the name of the owner. Mr Giecco said: "It would have been his set of gaming counters and we've got six of these pieces from he site all found together. "You can't get any more personal than an object that actually had the owner's name scratched on to it." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Successful archaeological dig returns
Volunteers are being encouraged to join a training dig at a site where previous Roman treasures have been unearthed. The community dig at Carlisle Cricket Club, the site of a Roman bathhouse, will run until 1 March. A rare dye made from snails for the robes of the Roman elite and carved stone Roman heads are among the artefacts previously yielded from the patch. Cumberland Council said the project could also help unemployed people get "experience and transferable skills". The pilot scheme has been organised by Uncovering Roman Carlisle (UCU), with support from Cumberland Council through the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding aims to help people learn new skills to help them land jobs. Alongside the dig, some candidates have been taught 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 awareness of jobs in heritage," the council said. Councillor Anne Quilter said that previous participants had got jobs while others had gone on to study and volunteer. "The archaeology and the tour guiding training, are a means to acquire transferable skills and gain employment in a number of sectors, when combined with wrap around support from Inspira for CVs," she said. Visits to the dig are free and anyone can join in. Cumbria Blue Badge tourist guide and trainer, Tess Pike, said: "We have had an excellent start to the programme in January at Cumbria's Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle. "The volunteers on the programme have been fantastic and the opportunities that tourist guiding can open up in terms of employment and transferable skills have been well documented." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. Third Roman head unearthed at cricket club dig Roman snail dye found in UK for first time Cumberland Council
BBC News
15-02-2025
- BBC News
Carlisle volunteers urged to join archaeological dig
Volunteers are being encouraged to join a training dig at a site where previous Roman treasures have been unearthed. The community dig at Carlisle Cricket Club, the site of a Roman bathhouse, will run until 1 March.A rare dye made from snails for the robes of the Roman elite and carved stone Roman heads are among the artefacts previously yielded from the patch. Cumberland Council said the project could also help unemployed people get "experience and transferable skills". The pilot scheme has been organised by Uncovering Roman Carlisle (UCU), with support from Cumberland Council through the government's UK Shared Prosperity funding aims to help people learn new skills to help them land the dig, some candidates have been taught 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 awareness of jobs in heritage," the council said. Councillor Anne Quilter said that previous participants had got jobs while others had gone on to study and volunteer. "The archaeology and the tour guiding training, are a means to acquire transferable skills and gain employment in a number of sectors, when combined with wrap around support from Inspira for CVs," she said. Visits to the dig are free and anyone can join in. Cumbria Blue Badge tourist guide and trainer, Tess Pike, said: "We have had an excellent start to the programme in January at Cumbria's Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle."The volunteers on the programme have been fantastic and the opportunities that tourist guiding can open up in terms of employment and transferable skills have been well documented." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
