The Romans are Coming Home

ANCIENT treasures including Roman shoes, clothes and chariot straps discovered near Carlisle Castle are coming home to the city.

Some of the most significant finds of the Millennium Dig, which took place between 1998 and 2001, will form the centrepiece of an exhibition marking Carlisle’s rich Roman past.

A lack of facilities in Cumbria meant most of the artifacts were taken to research facilities at Lancaster University for the findings to be preserved and researched.

But, finally, the report has been completed and staff at Carlisle’s Tullie House museum and gallery are getting ready to celebrate the city’s past.

David Clarke, senior curator and collections manager at Tullie House, said: “Some of the pieces have been away with experts being reviewed and studied, some being conserved. Different specialists were needed for different types of materials. It’s a very big process – the writing-up stage is as big as the excavation.

“Long term it (the finds) will stay in Carlisle. Everything found will be kept here, either in store or on view.”

As well as the exhibition, which will bring together the results of 30 years of excavation in Carlisle, plans have been revealed for a new Hadrian’s Wall at the museum.

Although it is unlikely to happen in the very near future, the museum has recently put in a bid for lottery funding to develop the idea.

The last years of the 20th century provided ample opportunity for Roman archaeology in the city, when work to clear the way for new developments revealed significant discoveries.

Among these was a previously unknown site on Botchergate discovered in 1998, which suggested Roman Carlisle was bigger than previously thought, and many ancient artifacts were also discovered when workers were clearing the way for the Lanes shopping development in the city.

Famously, other places in the UK have built on their heritage. The discovery of an ancient fort at Wallsend, North Tyneside, led to the opening of Segedunum, a popular visitor attraction housing museum and Roman baths as well as the archeological site.

And in York, a three-year dig by the city’s Archaeological Trust led to the building of the world-famous Jorvik Viking Centre after a wealth of 10th century remains were discovered.

Hoopers boss Victoria Farley has called for Carlisle to make more of its heritage by turning the Castle Street area of the city into a ‘Roman experience’ as part of the Renaissance regeneration project.

Mr Clarke agrees that not enough emphasis has been placed on the enormous importance of Carlisle in the Roman period: “What the excavation material revealed was that Carlisle was much more important as a Roman town than most people give it credit for. The big thing now is to make sure it is put on the map more than it is at the moment.”

But he also feels that centres like Jorvik can easily become dated and he wants to ensure that Carlisle’s treasures get the showing they deserve: “We will use the latest display techniques. But Jorvik has got something to teach us.”

(News & Star - 6 March 2007)