Date:

Stone head from Roman period found at Carlisle dig

Archaeologists from the “Uncovering Roman Carlisle” project have found a carved stone head during excavations of the Carlisle Cricket Club in Carlisle, England.

The project is a community excavation, focusing on uncovering a Roman bathhouse first discovered in 2017. The bathhouse is located near the Roman fort of Uxelodunum (meaning “high fort”), also known as Petriana, in the Carlisle district of Stanwix.

- Advertisement -

Uxelodunum was constructed to control the territories west of present-day Carlisle and an important crossing on the River Eden. The fort was garrisoned by the Ala Petriana, a 1,000-strong cavalry unit, whose members were all granted Roman citizenship for valour on the field.

The stone head was found in a monumental Roman structure located south of the bathhouse, where earlier in 2024 archaeologists found the cremated remains of a young woman.

This stone head measures 18 cm x 13 cm and is thought to depict a woman with a Classical Roman hairstyle that is reminiscent of the kind worn by Empress Julia Domna (AD 193 to 211). The discovery follows on from two monumental head sculptures uncovered at the site in 2023.

Previous excavations at the bathhouse site have also discovered engraved gems known as intaglios, figurines, animal bones, imperial-stamped tiles, and a rare lump of Tyrian purple.

- Advertisement -

Excavations this autumn intend to expand research on the monumental structure in the southern area of the site, and also investigate the vast scale of the bathhouse, which remains to be fully determined.

The autumn excavation will also 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. Find out more at: www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk

Header Image Credit : Cumberland Council (facebook)

Sources : Cumberland Council

- Advertisement -
spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Iron Age chamber tomb uncovered near Riedlingen

Archaeologists from the State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council (LAD) have uncovered a rare example of a preserved Iron Age chamber tomb during excavations in the Danube plain near Riedlingen, Germany.

Lost colonial settlement discovered beneath Amazon rainforest

Archaeologists from the Amazônia Revelada project have discovered a lost colonial settlement dating back to the 18th century. 

8,000-year-old dwelling discovered at Svinjarička Čuka

A team of archaeologists, led by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), have discovered the remains of a rectangular dwelling that was constructed approximately 8,000 years ago in Svinjarička Čuka, Serbia.

Traces of Iron Age longhouses uncovered at Stora Hammar

Archaeologists from Arkeologerna have been investigating the remains of several longhouses and Iron Age farms in Stora Hammar, Sweden.

Shackleton’s Endurance revealed in high detailed 3D scans

Researchers from the Endurance22 project have revealed high detailed 3D scans of the Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship from the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917.

Burial ground containing Viking Age ship burials discovered in Halland County

Archaeologists have discovered a large Viking Age burial ground during investigations of a prehistoric settlement near Varberg in Halland County, Sweden.

Rare gold Rhenish guilder discovered near Kamień Pomorski

A medieval gold Rhenish guilder was recently discovered near Kamień Pomorski in West Pomerania.

Historic wreck of the Hetman Żółkiewski discovered

Archaeologists have discovered the submerged wreck of the Hetman Żółkiewski in the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland.