An archaeological dig that has uncovered more of Carlisle's Roman secrets is set to come to an end (for now).

The community dig at the site of a Roman bathhouse at Carlisle Cricket Club in Stanwix, which started on August 31, has uncovered numerous ancient artifacts and objects, including rings, tiles indented with animal prints, coins, Roman-era window glass, and beautifully patterned pottery.

Also among the finds were more than 20 tiles stamped with the imperator (IMP) stamp - something that lead archaeologist on site, Frank Giecco, said has added to a growing pool of evidence that points to Carlisle having a link to the Roman Imperial court.

He believes the site of the bathhouse, which was first uncovered in 2017, still has more secrets to reveal.

"It has produced some amazing finds," said Frank.

"We have got very late pottery from the end of the Roman Empire, we've got a huge haul of these Imperial stamped tiles and we can confirm that there are actually three bathhouses on the site now.

"The help from local people has been fantastic and there is such a nice buzz about the place.

"Nothing has been looked at yet. We are just focusing on the excavating now, but the real work starts once we finish and we look at what we have found in the lab."

Frank said that it is not possible to prove that the Emperor - Spetimus Severus at the time (193 - 211 AD) - ever set foot in the building.

However, he added that the building clearly had a link to the Imperial court and that the evidence was stacking up.

He said: "It's a huge monumental building that has been built by the Imperial workshop when Septimus Severus is in this country.

"There is a huge amount of circumstantial evidence.

"It has obviously got something to do with the Imperial court because his workshop built it. To say he was ever physically in it, you would need to have a time machine."

Carlisle City Councillor for Stanwix, Elizabeth Mallinson, said she would like to see an on-site museum to put the "exciting" findings on display.

She said: "We would like to be in a position to save all the artifacts and put them on show.

"I'm sending out a plea to an entrepreneur out there who would have a couple of million pounds to spend on a lovely museum for us, so that we can have the artifacts that have been dug up at the cricket club and in other parts of Carlisle on display.

"I think it would be absolutely fantastic to have it as a centre for tourists, like there is at Birdoswald and other locations along Hadrian's Wall."

Head of Collections and Engagement at Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust, Anna Smalley, said: “We are delighted at how much this excavation seems to have captured the imagination of our local residents - we’ve had thousands of visitors to the site over the past few weeks taking part in everything from object handling and site tours to Roman themed family crafts!

"It’s been a privilege to work alongside the Wardell Armstrong team and their amazing crew of dedicated volunteers - it feels like every day we’re adding to our knowledge and understanding of this incredible period of local history and look forward to telling these stories in the exhibition at Tullie House in Spring 2022.”