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| Archaeological supervisor Terry Frain with the hairpin found at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields [Credit: Shields Gazette] |
“These recent finds show that there are still exciting finds to be unearthed here. With help from the team of volunteers, we have made more good headway with the excavations.”
The volunteers also cleaned and sorted artefacts previously found on the site, including pieces of Roman pottery, animal bones and Roman brick and tiles.
The animal bones included pieces of a dog’s jawbone – part of two third-century dog burials found at Arbeia in August. They were possibly buried for ritual reasons.
The digs were organised through Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ business partnership scheme, Connect through Culture.
Jamie Martin, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “As a firm, we believe in playing a full part in the communities which we serve and this was a terrific opportunity to do just that. Making an intriguing new discovery about the history of South Tyneside certainly added to the attraction of the activity and helped to make for a fascinating day’s work for our staff who took part.”
Dean Lawson, a health and safety adviser at Northumbrian Water, was one of the volunteers who took part through the water company’s ‘Just an hour’ scheme, that allows all employees to spend paid work-time supporting community projects.
He said: “It’s very rare to get the chance to go on a professional archaeological dig, so it was a really good opportunity and we made some interesting discoveries. I have already volunteered to clean and save artefacts again next year.”
Anyone who wants more information about Connect through Culture can call Stef Anderson on 277 2173 or e-mail stef.anderson@twmuseums.org.uk
Arbeia is also part of a new community archaeology project, giving members of the public the chance to get involved in hands-on excavation work and desk-based research.
For details, call Nick Hodgson on 454 4093 or email Nick.Hodgson@twmuseums.org.uk
Source: The Shields Gazette [October 19, 2012]