The bad weather hasn't stopped diggers at the Uncovering Roman Carlisle summer excavation from unearthing incredible finds and discovering more about the city's rich past. 

Hundreds of people have spent the last month in the mud at Carlisle Cricket Club peeling back the layers of history to tell us more about Roman activity in the city. 

They've found lots of exciting artefacts from rare Tyrian purple dye, pottery, and animal bones, to a bronze hairpin, two complete cups, and a coin dating back to 80BC.

"When we catch our breaths and look back, we've got some amazing finds from this season. It's just we haven't found two huge monumental heads and lots of gems," said lead archaeologist Frank Giecco.

It's not just artefacts that they've discovered either, they're learning more about how the site was used by its occupants. 

The main drain which, during previous excavations, produced gems was later rebuilt and is no longer producing the same finds. This tells the archaeological team that the building served a different function during this period.

They've also found a large stone building where the road is built differently which might be linked to when the drain was rebuilt. 

The discoveries being made at the site have attracted international attention over the last few years and the Facebook group (The Diggers: Archaeology in Carlisle) where they share updates about the site has more than 2600 members.

In fact, this year they have had people travel from as far as Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Germany and Switzerland to take part in the excavations.

People from a bit closer to home have also been keen to get involved in the digging action.

Rory Wood and Kate Kneen, from Whitehaven, are interested in archaeological artefacts and were lucky enough to find a pottery cup, a shard of glass, and a tile with a dog's paw print on their first day.

Mr Wood said: "It kind of brings it home that when you're digging out these bits of rocks and mud and dirt, that there's a bit of a human touch to it, that there was a human there and they maybe had a dog as a pet.

"It's a short journey down the road, and to be given the ability to come here and volunteer and take part and actually find some things as well, it's an absolute dream come true."

The dig will end of 15 June but there will be more opportunities to get involved later in the year.