This autumn, a new home will be found for the ancient Roman heads that were found in Cumbria earlier this year.
The two Roman heads were the most significant finds at Carlisle cricket club (Image: Stuart Walker)
The extraordinary discoveries, which were uncovered with numerous other eye-catching artifacts as part of the archaeological excavation that was conducted at the Carlisle Cricket Club, will be on display at Tullie House Museum from September 23 through November 11.
Digging Deeper: Uncovering Roman Carlisle, a new exhibition, will offer visitors the chance to view the artifacts for the first time in a public setting while exhibiting the most recent, internationally significant discoveries from Carlisle's Roman Bathhouse.
This exhibit will also honor the enormous collective effort that went into the dig. More than 2,000 noteworthy finds were made during the most current excavation phase, which included 373 volunteers and more than 1,678 volunteer days since 2021. The facility was visited by almost 6,000 people, including 625 school groups from the neighborhood.
"I am thrilled that the artifacts found in Carlisle will be on display in the city's museum," said Cllr. Anne Quilter, Executive Portfolio Holder for Vibrant and Healthy Places at Cumberland Council. This is a wonderful chance to view some of the archaeological artifacts and learn more about the extensive Roman legacy of the region. Everyone should go, as it will undoubtedly be a must-see display.
Along with the latest discoveries, visitors will have another opportunity to view the objects on display as part of the 2017 exhibition Uncovering Roman Carlisle, which provided an overview of the progress made by the excavation since the discovery of the bathhouse site.
A variety of interactive activities for all ages, including a digging area, games, and logic puzzles, will also be included, in addition to drone footage of the dig site.
The Roman heads unearthed at Carlisle Cricket Club (Image: Newsquest)
Even though our volunteers only found many of these artifacts this summer, lead archaeologist Frank Gieco said they are already widely recognized finds. We hope that this display will be able to convey both the importance of Roman Carlisle and the rarity of these discoveries.
In particular, those finds that have been retrieved from the major bathhouse drains, "myself and the crew at Wardell with the volunteers have been working away at identifying and interpreting the amazing amount of discoveries. These gemstones' carvings depict numerous mythological tales and provide us with insight into the thoughts of Roman bathers from 1800 years ago.
Children and those under the age of 18 will be admitted free, and beginning September 1, 2023, adults can purchase tickets to the exhibition.
