Festival of Archaeology 2014 and visiting the Roman circus

Yesterday (12th July) was the first day of the annual British Festival of Archaeology. The Festival of Archaeology 2014 lasts for two weeks (12th-27th July) and it is co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA).

‘… The Festival of Archaeology … encourages everyone to explore the archaeology of their local area, watch experts at work, and experience archaeology for themselves …’

This year there are over 1,000 events across the UK. There seem to be quite a few events in a wide area around Colchester. ‘The Romans are coming … to Braintree Museum’ took place  yesterday. On three weekends in July, there are hands-on archaeology sessions at Copped Hall. There will be two days of test-pitting at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village in July. Volunteers are needed in the Abbey Gardens at Waltham Abbey on the 19th July, to form a human outline of the abbey on the ground for an aerial photograph. At Southend Pier on the 24th July, there will be a display of local shipwreck finds. There will be various events at Audley End park and stately home, and there is a guided tour of medieval Bures on the 19th July. Archaeology is for everyone, so have a look or have a go!

Also, yesterday, local archaeologist Mike Corbishley brought members of the Great Oakley Workers Educational Association (WEA) to visit the Roman circus. Dedicated Trust volunteer Neil led them on an enthusiastic guided tour of the circus site and circus centre.

Colchester’s Roman circus site, circus centre and cafe are open Monday-Saturday, 10.30am-4.30pm, until the 30th September. Entry is free. The remains of part of the circus are exposed and can be viewed and, in the circus centre, there is a cabinet of Roman finds which we have excavated over the past few years in the old garrison, in which the circus site and centre are located. Also on display are some of the excavated parts of one of the turning-posts of the circus. Our displays in the centre are under development and they are developing nicely! (Meanwhile, on the first floor, above the circus centre, the Trust’s archaeologists are hard at work every weekday in the world of commercial archaeology, and you can follow our work in our blog.) We look forward to seeing you at the Roman circus.

Visit the WEA web-site at www.wea.org.uk/ ; visit the Festival of Archaeology 2014 web-site at www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/ and the CBA web-site at http://new.archaeologyuk.org/ .

With many thanks to Neil, and to the Great Oakley WEA for coming to see the Roman circus.

The image shows members of the WEA and Neil with our new reconstructions of stumps of the circus starting-gates and central gateway, yesterday.

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