Fort Arbeia and the Roman… (trip)

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Fort Arbeia and the Roman Empire in Britain

  • South Shields Roman Fort, England
  • Volunteer Vacations
England

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Period offered: June-August. The provider (view their profile) can provide you with specific departure dates, final prices, and other information.


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from $1,495* per person7 DaysJune-August
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Earthwatch Institute 20 people max
Two millennia ago, the Roman Empire stretched all the way to northern England, which the Romans considered the very edge of civilization—and perhaps the world. Arbeia, the Roman fort overlooking the river and harbour from Lawe Top, became part of one of the largest and busiest supply depots in the northern Roman Empire, as it was less than four miles from Hadrian’s Wall, which the Empire built to mark its northern boundary and protect its settlements from the region’s native inhabitants such as the Brigantes and Picts. How did these cultures adapt to each other and coexist? The answers have intriguing parallels throughout world history and may hold important lessons for today’s cultures in contact—and sometimes conflict—with each other. You can help a seasoned team of archaeologists, led by Paul Bidwell, Dr Nick Hodgson, Graeme Stobbs and Alex Croom (all with the Tyne and Wear Museums), excavate Arbeia and its environs to better understand how ancient Romans and Europeans came into contact with each other—and were forever changed by the experience.

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Locations visited/nearby

England

0 testimonials about this trip.

1 testimonial about the provider, Earthwatch Institute:

  • Reviewer: L. Reifschneider located in St. Louis, MO USA
    Elephant conservation is what drives my travel destinations. However, I always come home counting the blessings of new friends and an understanding of a culture and way of life I possibly would otherwise have never been introduced to. Through the Earthwatch projects I participate in, I am learning just how big and wonderful this world is.

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Itinerary

On the Expedition

When in Rome, they say, do as the Romans do. But what did the Romans do in England?

This extraordinary permanent large-scale excavation site is in a quiet residential area close to the River Tyne and the North Sea. South Shields Roman Fort is the site of a roman military and civilian settlement and lies within the UNESCO Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. For more than a decade, Earthwatch teams have helped map more than 1,000 square meters of pre-Roman and Roman settlement here, excavating jewellery, armour, game pieces, and ceramics.

You’ll work in small groups, rotating among many tasks, including stratigraphic excavation using a trowel or possibly more robust digging equipment, recording site data, site surveying, and sampling, cleaning, and processing finds. When you're not digging into the social changes of the Roman era and other historical ages, your recreational time can be spent along the most impressive stretches of Hadrian's Wall, enjoying local Geordie culture in South Shields, or in the historic cities of Newcastle, York, Durham, and Edinburgh—all just a few hours travel from the field site.

Meals and Accommodations

Your team will enjoy local guest houses a close to your work site in this pleasant, coastal resort town. The guest houses provide shared bedrooms, hot showers and bathrooms, and easy access to parks, beaches, pubs, and restaurants. At the excavation site, you'll be fortified by your choice of picnic lunches. You’ll also enjoy full English or continental breakfasts and hearty dinners at the guesthouse. You may even experience the treat of traditional English fish and chips.
About the Research Area

The region of Tyne and Wear is well known for its award winning beaches, amazing coastline, its wildlife, and its tranquil beauty. South Shields is located south east of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and is situated within the Tyneside conurbation, a famous former industrial area. The residential area where you’ll work is in a coastal holiday resort, with many parks and good beaches nearby. Much of the coastal area remains open and unspoiled, and the research site and accommodations lie in a quiet, residential area close to the North Sea and the mouth of the River Tyne.

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