Roman artefacts found in the North among items in a unique collection
A FASCINATING set of Roman artefacts will soon be seen by the public for the first time at an archaeological store in North Yorkshire.
Curators will offer guided tours of English Heritage’s archive in Helmsley from May 27 and allow people to take a closer look at its unique collection.
The charity is looking to highlight Roman artefacts, which were found in locations across the North, during these tours to mark 1,900 years since building Hadrian’s Wall began.
English Heritage says: “The store houses an extensive archaeological collection, as well as paper-based archives.” There are objects such as Roman mosaics, Roman shoes and 200 pallets full of stonework from forts near Hadrian’s Wall. Curators will also show visitors how they look after and care for collections and draw attention to some of their favourite finds.
Tours of the archaeological stores are free but need to be booked in advance. It is the first time in three years tours have been offered.
Artefacts in the warehouse were discovered at English Heritage guardianship sites from across the North, in the likes of Yorkshire, Northumberland, County Durham.
English Heritage says: “The range of collections spans English history from p rehistory to the modern day.”
To mark the 1,900th anniversary of the start of construction of Hadrian’s Wall, English Heritage is also running a range of Roman-themed activities and events up and down the country.
The 73-mile wall, which runs from coast to coast, was built to guard the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire.
It formed a border between Roman Britannia and the unconquered territory of Caledonia, which is now known as Scotland. Emperor Hadrian called for the wall to be built in AD 122, after he decided he would not follow the expansionist policies of his predecessors and instead focus on securing the empire within its existing border.
Following construction, the wall was maintained, patrolled and guarded by Roman soldiers for almost 250 years.
EnglishHeritageis responsible for preserving sections of the wall and more than 50 Roman sites across the country, including signal-tower forts on the Yorkshire coast and luxurious villas, baths, temples, amphitheatres.
The range of collections spans Prehistory to modern day. A spokesperson for English Heritage.