IT'S a find that most archaeologists can only dream of...
For more than six years, Carlisle Cricket Club's Edenside ground has been yielding fascinating and long lost secrets as archaeologists and volunteers continue the painstaking work of uncovering the site's Roman past.
Yet few people were prepared for its latest historic gems.
Just two days into a new dig at the site, where a huge Roman bathhouse with imperial connections was discovered, volunteers have made a stunning discovery - two fantastically preserved effigies of heads.
Carved from sandstone, and standing two feet high, they emerged from the dirt in almost perfect condition, staring blindly from history, their faces aloof, cold, godlike.
They represent a direct link to Carlisle's ancient past when the city - Luguvalium to the Romans - was on the fringe of the Roman Empire.
They were found abandoned at the edge of what was once a cobbled Roman road.
Given the high number of imperial artefacts previously found at the site - including tiles with the royal IMP imprint - there is already speculation that the figures may be depictions of a royal couple who may have visited the city.
Frank Giecco, from the archaeology firm Wardell Armstrong, was on site when the heads were uncovered by volunteers Carolyn Veit and Ruth Pearce.
Recalling his first glimpse of the heads, Frank said: "It sent tingles down my spine. As an archaeologist, this is what you live to find. We’ve been very lucky; and just to see the pure of everybody involved was wonderful.
“This project has become a community.
“The heads had been left, side by side on the road surface. They’ve probably been hidden since the fifth century, when that road went out of use and they were covered in dark earth.
“Part of the building was probably robbed for building materials; and these two heads were just left at the side of the road. An educated guess would be that they were part of the huge bath house on the site. 
"They probably date from the early third century. These heads would take pride of place in any museum.”
Ironically, luck played a part in the discovery, said Frank, who believes the female head may represent Fortuna, the Roman goddess of good fortune.
He explained: “As I was laying out the dig site, I moved the boundary about 50 centimetres to the south. I was putting a stake in the ground but hit a stone, so I moved the line.
"If I hadn’t done that, we’d never have found them.
"It’s been an incredible two days into the project; it's the first sculpture found from the site and could be the find of a lifetime.
"This truly shows the significance of the Bathhouse and raises the site to a whole new level of importance with such monumental sculpture and adds to overall grandeur of the building."
Frank's fellow archaeologist Jo Beaty specualted that the heads may be effigies of the third century Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and his queen Julia Domna.
If Jo is right, the discovery adds weight to the possibility that the two rulers may once have stayed at the Carlisle site.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime find," she said.
The heads add to the ever-expanding list of impressive artefacts found on the site. Previous digs have discovered carved gemstones described by a leading expert as being up there with the great artworks of the empire.
Tiles ‘fit for a Roman Emperor’ were also discovered indicating that Septimus Severus truly did have connections with the site. There was also an inscription stone paying tribute to his queen.
Excavations also uncovered several tiles stamped with the official Roman Imperial stamp. The IMP stands for Imperator, Latin for Emperor. A stamp such as this indicates a tilery and brick makers who had official imperial approval.
The new dig got underway on Monday, May 22 and will carry on until Saturday, June 24, a week later than planned, due to the generosity of local firm R H Irving Construction.
The local firm donated their support and provided the machinery on site for free, resulting in the excavation being expanded allowing even more volunteers to take part.
The site continues to be active and is open to the public between Monday and Saturday. Tours of the site are held at 11.30am and 3pm on each of these days.
Cumberland Council’s portfolio holder for Vibrant and Healthy Places, Councillor Anne Quilter, said: “It's is a significant find and it is great to hear that they were unearthed by volunteers.
“Carlisle has a rich Roman history, and this further strengthens the city’s connection to that era. I can’t wait to see what else is found!
"Thanks to all the team involved in the dig, including the hundreds of volunteers that have signed up to lend a hand.”
Uncovering Roman Carlisle has received £56,700 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Wardell Armstrong LLP alongside Cumberland Council and Carlisle Cricket Club would like to get as many people to visit in the project as possible.
The funding aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
The project will allow members of the public to take part in the community excavation or visit free of charge.
The bathhouse is the largest known building on Hadrian’s Wall, with hundreds of volunteers, over 1,000 significant finds, and over 1,200 days given by volunteers in past phases of the project since 2021.
The project was recognised by the Council of British Archaeology and the Marsh Charitable Trust as the Community Archaeology Project of the year 2021, with a member of the Project team Kevin Mounsey nominated for Community Archaeologist of the Year.
Hundreds of volunteers have already signed up to take part in the dig. Limited spaces are available for additional volunteers. No prior experience in archaeology is needed, just enthusiasm in learning about Carlisle’s past.
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