Archaeologists in Cumbria are seeking volunteers to help them explore the remains of a Roman settlement.
Ravenglass Roman fort was occupied from AD 120 until the 4th Century. During the dig, beginning on 12 September, archaeologists hope to find more evidence of the civilian settlement from 1,800 years ago.
The £125,000 project received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lake District National Park Authority and Copeland Community Fund. The site's unearthed bath house is still in good condition. The remains of the bath house of Ravenglass Roman fort, established in AD 130, are among the tallest Roman structures surviving in northern Britain: the walls stand almost 4 metres (13 feet) high. The fort at Ravenglass (whose earthworks can be seen near the bath house) guarded what was probably a useful harbour and there is evidence that soldiers stationed here served in Hadrian's fleet. The fort at Ravenglass guarded what was probably a very serviceable harbour. Excavations in the 1970s on the surviving fort platform (between the railway and the sea) indicated that the fort had probably been founded during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian (AD 117–38). However, beneath it, and on a different alignment, was an earlier fort, presumably dating from the first century AD.
Lake District National Park's archaeology and heritage assistant, Holly Beavitt-Pike, said: "This is a rare opportunity for people to get involved, not just in understanding their rich heritage, but to leave a lasting legacy."
There will also be open days at the site on 12, 13 and 27 September.
From BBC news 23/8/14
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Ravenglass Roman fort dig needs volunteers >
On 26 July 2014, the Wolfson Gallery became the new home for displays from the Museum of Archaeology. This permanent exhibition uses objects from Museum of Archaeology, alongside objects from across Durham University and other regional museums to explore the last 10,000 years of Durham.
Over the last few months, visitors to the Wolfson Gallery have been able preview a taster exhibition, unearthing the stories of how people have lived and worked in Durham for over 10,000 years.
Living on the Hills explores the lives of people who have lived and visited Durham through the tools and everyday objects they used, and the art and architecture they left behind to be rediscovered. Discover Prehistoric objects found by chance at the turn of the century, Roman objects uncovered by Victorian antiquarians and Medieval objects found during 1970s archaeological excavations.
Community Archaeology
Included in the gallery is a community archaeology space which will showcase the work of local archaeology and history groups from across the region.
Durham Archaeology Explorers, 26 July 2014 - 26 January 2015
Discover the work and activities of the Durham Archaeology Explorers (DAX). See how they engage with children aged 7-11 years to inspire a lifelong interest in, and respect for, archaeology and the people of the past.
If you are part of a community archaeology group and would like to work with the curatorial team to create a display, please contact the museum.
The Wolfson Gallery
The Wolfson Gallery is located on the first floor of Palace Green Library. The Gallery opened in 2011 after undergoing a £2.3m refurbishment, funded in part by a £500,000 donation from the Wolfson Foundation. The Wolfson Gallery is designed to exhibit the collections to the highest standards of conservation.
Cynics amongst us often proclaim Valentine's Day to be nothing more than a ploy greedy conglomerates dreamt up to flog us all mass produced poor quality chocolate, unoriginal tomes of affection or the generic lab-produced red "rose". However, take a moment to be thankful that corny marketing campaigns are all you're being beaten over the head with.
Those Roman's didn't do things by halves and Valentine's Day is no exception, as explains Discovery News:
Forget roses, chocolates and candlelight dinners. On Valentine's Day, that's rather boring stuff — at least according to ancient Roman standards. Imagine half-naked men running through the streets, whipping young women with bloodied thongs made from freshly cut goat skins. Although it might sound like some sort of perverted sadomasochistic ritual, this is what the Romans did until A.D. 496. Mid-February was Lupercalia (Wolf Festival) time. Celebrated on February 15th at the foot of the Palatine Hill beside the cave where, according to tradition, the she-wolf had suckled Romulus and Remus, the festival was essentially a purification and fertility rite.
Directed by the Luperci, or "brothers of the wolf," the festival began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog, their blood smeared on the faces of Luperci initiates and then wiped off with wool dipped in milk. As thongs were cut from the sacrificed goats, the initiates would run around in the streets flagellating women to promote fertility. Finally, in 496, Pope Gelasius I banned the wild feast and declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine's Day.
But who was St. Valentine? Mystery surrounds the identity of the patron saint of lovers. Indeed, such was the confusion that the Vatican dropped St. Valentine's Day from the Catholic Church calendar of saints in the 1960s. There were at least three men by the name Valentine in the A.D. 200s, and all died horrible deaths.
One was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II. As he was imprisoned, he restored the sight of a blind girl, who fell in love with him. He was beheaded on Feb. 14.
Another was the pious bishop of Terni, also tortured and beheaded during Claudius II's reign.
A third Valentine secretly married couples, ignoring Claudius II's ban of marriage. When the priest of love was eventually arrested, legend has it that he fell deeply in love with his jailer's daughter. Before his death by beating and decapitation, he signed a farewell note to her: “From your Valentine.”
Read the full article on Discovery News >
