An award-winning community archaeological dig is set to return this autumn.

Uncovering Roman Carlisle (URC) will once again return to Carlisle's Roman Bathhouse, aiming to uncover more of the site's secrets.

The dig will take place from Saturday, September 21, to Sunday, October 20, with excavations occurring Monday to Saturday each week.

The project provides free access for Cumberland residents wanting to engage in archaeology and heritage.

Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council's executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: "This is another great opportunity to take part and visit the archaeological site.

"It has uncovered lots of amazing finds so far and I’m sure there will be more discovered."

The autumn excavation hopes to expand understanding of the southern section of the site, where a Roman cremation urn was found at the end of the excavations in June.

The bathhouse is the largest known building on Hadrian's Wall, with more than 300 significant finds.

Five thousand people visited in June/May 2024, with more than 300 volunteers joining in between May and June this year to help.

URC has so far won four awards, three archaeological achievement awards from the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and an award from the Society for Museum Archaeology for the 2023 exhibition.

URC featured on the most recent series of Digging for Britain with Dr Alice Roberts, and it will also feature in the 2024 series of Great Railway Journeys, promoting Carlisle.

The site will be open for tours from 10am to 3pm each day.

Groups of more than ten are encouraged to contact the organisers through the Uncovering Roman Carlisle website and make a booking.

Schools and education groups are also invited to visit, with more than 1,200 engaging with the URC education programme so far in 2024.

A small temporary travelling exhibition is currently in the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre with some background on the site and the project.

Wardell Armstrong LLP alongside Cumberland Council, Tullie, and Carlisle Cricket Club have worked together to promote the site.

Frank Giecco, technical director at Wardell Armstrong, said: "Through support from Cumberland Council with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we were able to come back to the site again this year and we couldn’t turn down the chance to welcome more volunteers, and to continue to explore more of what is becoming one of the most significant sites on the Roman frontier.

“I cannot emphasise how astounded we are by the discoveries from this site, the amount, the quality, and how unique so many of them are.

"Among the finds from the spring excavation have been potentially more Tyrian Purple fragments, and Carlisle’s oldest Roman Coin - which even predates the birth of the Roman Empire dating to 82 BC.

"I am always so proud of what we have been able to achieve and of all the ongoing public support that the diggers, the public, and academic community, have contributed and continues to give so.

"It’s always very humbling.

"Behind the scenes the work is ongoing with volunteers, universities and specialists who have very generously given their time to study and record these discoveries too."

Discoveries by The Diggers have been essential in uncovering more than 3,000 significant finds.

These finds are 'evidence' that Carlisle has a 'very high status monumental building', with a connection to the Roman Imperial family.

Among these discoveries are more than 700 Roman coins from centuries of occupation, a large amount of painted wall plaster, military finds such as arrow heads, spear tips, and parts of swords and daggers, more than 400 hair pins, Imperial stamped tiles, North African style vaulting tubes for roof construction, hundreds of 'stunning' glass beads, gaming pieces, and even a 'rare' Roman doll’s foot.

Significantly, 70 intaglios have been discovered in the drains.

These are 'magnificently carved' gemstones which dropped from Roman signet rings when the glue holding them melted in the bathhouse heat.

Last year, a sample of Tyrian Purple – a type of very expensive purple dye used for the clothes of the Roman Imperial Family, or in high status buildings - was discovered, providing 'strong evidence' for an Imperial connection.

Two 'monumental and unique' carved stone heads were discovered by a volunteer on their first ever excavation.

In May–June of this year, the foundations for a possible monumental building were discovered to the south of a Roman road where a Roman cremation urn was found.

Find out more at: www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk