Earlier in the year Jason Wood, Heritage Consultant for the Beyond the Castle project was preparing for the dig by interrogating the topographic and geophysical survey results. This is the first in a series of videos where Jason explains the extensive work that took place before a trowel or mattock came in contact with the trench.
Author: Loura
Mini Exhibition, online preview
We have prepared for you a mini exhibition to let you know about the wider context of the excavations currently taking place. You can see a mini version of it here and it will be available to anyone visiting the dig over the coming week or so. We hope to move the exhibition to other venues post dig and would really appreciate your feedback so we can improve it as we discover more.
Archaeological Excavation Vicarage Field; Scheduled Ancient Monument Site Castle Hill
Twelve days of archaeological excavation on Lancaster’s Castle Hill will seek to uncover more about the city’s Roman past.
This new excavation will partly re-open earlier trenches dug in the late 1920s and early 1970s, but also investigate undisturbed ground to test emerging theories relating to Lancaster’s Late Roman Shore Fort. The Shore Fort was one of a succession of Roman Forts, dating from the first to fourth centuries, which occupied Lancaster’s Castle Hill.
Only limited excavations have taken place and very little is known about the nature of the Roman and later remains. Vicarage Fields to the west of Vicarage Lane displays a well-preserved but confusing set of earthworks. Some are very likely to …be Roman; others appear to be later.
The dig will partly re-excavate the 1929 and 1971 trenches to aid understanding of earlier research, and then extend these to the west and north.
Jason Wood, Excavation Director and Heritage Consultant to the Beyond the Castle project said: “The dig represents an important opportunity to test our theories relating to the location of Lancaster’s Late Roman Shore Fort. Hopefully it will enable us to consolidate our understanding of the site and what this might tell us about the nature and character of Lancaster in Roman times.”
The dig is led by the Beyond the Castle project, which has received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and is led by Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council.
The trenches will be hand-excavated by a combination of volunteers and experienced archaeologists under the direction of a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. The public will be encouraged to visit and watch the excavation, engage with archaeologists and the team of volunteers, and assist with finds processing.
A new emerging narrative for Roman Lancaster reinterprets accepted opinion and will invite challenge and further questions. Join the debate and have your say at a pop-up exhibition displayed on the site during the excavation.
We will set up at 8.30 ready for a 9am start and will conclude the day at 5 pm with a review for all volunteers (the public will be invited to listen in); weather and stamina permitting some of the excavation work might continue into the early evening.
How you can get involved:
Dig with us:
Many hands make light work. Please get in touch if you want to help out on the excavation (previous experience not required, 18+)
Come and visit:
Watch the excavation, view our pop up exhibition and talk to our volunteers
To get involved please contact Lucia Marquart (Site Supervisor and named organiser): Lucia.Marquart@lancashire.gov.uk, 07887 831154
For information please contact the Excavation Director, Jason Wood jwhcs@yahoo.co.uk 07763 475442.
Flickr Images
Landscape Management
A lot has changed on the site over the past few months. Two teams of workers from Preston United and Furniture Matters have been working on site alongside David Redmore to improve the area by primarily clearing self seeded trees that are damaging the sensitive archaeology. The hedge along Vicarage Lane has been laid by a team of volunteers and various new plants have been added to creative a more wildlife friendly environment whilst filling the gaps in the hedge.
February Update
Spring is coming, we have plenty to share with you and some exciting events coming up so make sure you don’t miss anything.
Landscape Management
If you have been ‘Beyond the Castle’ lately you will have noticed some changes in the landscape! We have been concentrating this Winter on landscape management and much progress has been made.
Skills development and volunteering:
Working with volunteers we have restored the historic hedge along Vicarage Lane; the work involved hedge laying and re-stocking of gaps to diversity the hedge with hawthorn, dog rose and guelder rose.
Working with community partners:
We are currently hosting and training two teams who are on a three month work placement with us. Our partners are Social Enterprises Preston United and Furniture Matters. The teams have been making great progress with hedge laying, removal of young trees from archaeologically sensitive areas, crown raising and shrub removal.
Woodland and landscape management planning
We held a workshop to introduce the public to woodland management planning and what is involved as we are to embark on the process of woodland management planning with the Forestry Commission.
Upcoming Events for your Diary
Landscape and Archaeology Walk and Talk
Sunday 1st March
2pm outside Lancaster Priory
To find out more about the work that is happening on site and how landscape management and archaeology go hand in hand. Meet our heritage and landscape consultants David Redmore and Jason for a guided walk/ site walkover.
Woodland Management Planning Values and objectives for Beyond the Castle
14th March, 2 – 5 pm, Lancaster Priory Refectory
Meet the Beyond the Castle Woodland Consultant to explore and define values and objectives for the Beyond the Castle woodland management planning; with Dave Brackley, Woodland Consultant
Heritage Lancaster; ‘Shaping the Future’ event
Monday 22nd June 2015 10 am – 4 pm The Storey Institute
We are bringing together leading specialists in Roman archaeology and medieval castles to help us envision the future of Lancaster as one of the UK’s key heritage cities. The event is free and open to anyone with a perspective on what the future of our city should be. We now have the line-up confirmed for our expert panel:
Chair: Gill Hey, CEO Oxford Archaeology
Simon Esmonde Cleary Professor of Roman Archaeology
John Goodall Architectural Editor of Country Life Magazine
David Breeze Authority on Roman Military Archaeology
Jason Wood Beyond the Castle Heritage Consultant
John Zant Project Manager Oxford Archaeology North
David Shotter Emeritus Professor Lancaster University
Andrew Pearson Authority on late Roman Military Archaeology
There will be four key themes running through the day:
Advancing archaeological interpretation and progressing future research and excavation
Masterplanning, access, vision for the site
Digital data, the future of engaging people and communication
Tourism and visitor offer
For more information and to book a free place please visit beyondthecastle.org/heritagelancaster
Priory Churchyard Then and Now
We are working with Lancaster Priory, Arts and Digital Technology partners to develop proposals for the restoration of the Priory Churchyard. We had our first meeting with the Heritage Lottery in January and are working on a stage one submission by May 2015.
Priory Churchyard Then and Now; talk by Stephen Gardner, Senior Conservation Officer, Lancaster City Council 13th June, 6 – 8 pm (meet at 6 am outside Lancaster Priory)
Coastal Communities Funding Application for St George’s Quay
We have been in contact with the Coastal Communities Fund; we expect to find out if we have been successful with our funding application before the end of March.
Heritage Lancaster: Shaping the Future
An open visioning event is being held on June 22nd at The Storey Institute where we are bringing together leading specialists in Roman archaeology and medieval castles to help us envision the future of Lancaster as one of the UK’s key heritage cities.
The event is free and open to anyone with a perspective on what the future of our city should be.
Event Themes
- Advancing archaeological interpretation of what we have found and how we progress future research and excavation.
- Masterplanning, access, vision for the site.
- Digital data, the future engaging people and communicating.
- Tourism, Castle, City, visitor offer.
Archaeology Panel
Chair: Gill Hey, CEO Oxford Archaeology
Simon Esmonde Cleary, Professor of Roman Archaeology, University of Birmingham
John Goodall, Architectural Editor of Country Life Magazine
David Breeze, Authority on Roman Military Archaeology
Jason Wood, Beyond the Castle Heritage Consultant
John Zant, Project Manager Oxford Archaeology North
David Shotter, Emeritus Professor Lancaster University
Andrew Pearson, Authority on late Roman Military Archaeology
Schedule
10:00
Welcome and Introductions
Plenary Panel
Workshop session
13:00
Lunch by NICE
14:00
Workshop session and networking
16:00
End of Event
Register to attend
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heritage-lancaster-a-future-for-our-history-tickets-12315948333 or call 01524 593770
