Big Dig @ Brading Roman Villa
Aug 15th, 2008 | By Island Pulse | In: Culture, Education, Environment, Features, History, Isle of Wight Event News, National News, NewsThe many days, weeks, months of planning and fundraising is reaching a climax as one of the biggest ever explorations of the past is underway at Brading Roman Villa on the Isle of Wight.
A team of 34 archaeologists, senior staff members and volunteers arrived on the Isle of Wight, earlier this month along with a large team of local volunteers to help with all aspects of an exciting new initiative.
Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, is leading the first major excavation on the Brading site since 1880. A great deal is yet to be discovered about this 3rd century maritime villa because very little of the total site has ever been explored.
This is the first year of a three to five year rolling programme of exploration and the focus is on the North range of buildings. It is not known what might be uncovered and it is possible that the Victorians may have left behind some interesting artefacts.
Work started when the turf that overlays the backfill to the Victorian excavation was removed. Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Alan Titchmarsh, removed the final section of turf on Monday 4th August.
The excavation is now open to the public throughout the three weeks that the archaeological dig takes place 3rd - 23rd August.
There will be public access to the museum and the dig site, with guided tours and information sheets available. The exhibition centre is open 9.30am to 5pm seven days a week and the café from 10am to 4pm daily.
Admission charges for adults including concessions will be increased by £2 per person for the three week period.
The Big Dig will run on the site daily until Saturday, August 23rd.
The Big Dig: Day One
The Big Dig: Day Two
The Big Dig: Day Three
The Big Dig: Day Four
The Big Dig: Day Five
The Big Dig: Day Six
The Big Dig: Day Seven
The Big Dig: Day Eight
The Big Dig: Day Nine
The Big Dig: Day Ten
The Big Dig: Day Eleven
The Big Dig: Day Twelve
The Big Dig: Day Thirteen
The Big Dig: Day Fourteen
The Big Dig: Day Fifteen
The Big Dig: Day Sixteen
The Big Dig: Day Seventeen
The Big Dig: Day Eighteen
The Big Dig: Day Nineteen
The Big Dig: Day Twenty
The Big Dig: Day Twenty-One
Update: Saturday 23rd August 2008
‘I have completed everything that I wanted to do on the site’.
These were the words that Sir Barry uttered on Saturday with a very pleased and satisfied expression on his face.
Only a few archaeologists remain on site and they are completing the last stages of the recording of the detail.
This is only the first year of a five year programme and Sir Barry is very keen to come back next year.
A great deal of money is needed to make this happen and fundraising for the 2009 Big Dig @ Brading Roman Villa will start soon.
To enable as many people as possible to view this unique site tours will continue at least until the end of this month.
After publishing a feature on the Brading Roman Villa Dig, it appears global online news, have made the Roman Dig on the Isle of Wight hot property. Lets hope this frenzy of press coverage brings in much needed funds for the team of archaeologists to dig a little deeper into the Islands Roman History.
Britain’s biggest-ever Roman villa ‘discovered’
Hindu, India Archaeologists have discovered what they claim is the biggest and best-preserved Roman villa ever unearthed in Britain — a church-shaped …
Britain’s biggest Roman villa uncovered
Times Online, UK - One of the largest and best-preserved Roman villas yet discovered in Britain has been unearthed by archaeologists. Built 1800 years ago on the Isle of Wight …
Prize piece of Roman architecture unearthed on Isle of Wight
Building.co.uk, By Olivia Boyd A Roman villa as big as an Olympic swimming pool has been unearthed by archaeologists on the Isle of Wight. The building, which is 1800 years …
Olympic-sized Roman villa discovered in Britain
Telegraph.co.uk, A Roman villa 1800 years old and as big as an Olympic swimming pool has been discovered in Britain. By Chris Irvine The discovery is one of the largest and …
Belgische sportduif strandt op eiland Wight
Het Laatste Nieuws, Belgium -Brading Roman Villa, een Romeins-Britse archeologische site in het Verenigd Koninkrijk, heeft sinds een week een verloren gevlogen Belgische sportduif als …
Best Western News, UK - An 1800-year-old Roman villa - deemed the largest and best preserved Roman villa yet discovered in Britain - is now being excavated on the Isle of Wright. ..
United Press International - A Roman historical site on the Isle of Wight in Britain, dismissed by Victorian-era excavators as a barn, has turned out to be a large Roman …
Related Links: Brading Dig Makes Global News
Daily Big Dig progress reports can be found on the Brading Roman Villa website, HERE:
