First systematic excavation of Englands ancient Hadrian Wall underway
Archaeologists from Newcastle University, in collaboration with English Heritage, have begin the first systematic excavation of a cemetery on Hadrians Wall in England, in order to preserve it effectively.
Hadrians Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England.
An important Roman cremation cemetery, situated on a cliff edge, forms part of the World Heritage Site at Birdoswald Fort, Cumbria.
It is under serious threat from erosion, which has accelerated over the last few years.
English Heritage voiced concerns about erosion after it acquired the site in 2001 and began investigative work to establish whether it could be prevented.
Findings revealed that the cliff on which the fort and settlement of Birdoswald stand is under constant threat of erosion, caused by a combination of the river at the base of the cliff and water and frost action on the boulder clay at the top.
Excavation is therefore the only way to avoid the loss of this delicate archaeology.
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Hadrians Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England.
An important Roman cremation cemetery, situated on a cliff edge, forms part of the World Heritage Site at Birdoswald Fort, Cumbria.
It is under serious threat from erosion, which has accelerated over the last few years.
English Heritage voiced concerns about erosion after it acquired the site in 2001 and began investigative work to establish whether it could be prevented.
Findings revealed that the cliff on which the fort and settlement of Birdoswald stand is under constant threat of erosion, caused by a combination of the river at the base of the cliff and water and frost action on the boulder clay at the top.
Excavation is therefore the only way to avoid the loss of this delicate archaeology.