big open dig day at Colchester’s Roman circus site: 22nd June

The Trust is pleased to announce that next Saturday (22nd June) will be our big open dig day on our new excavation site over part of the line of the Roman circus. The site is right in front of our building, Roman Circus House, off Circular Road North in the former garrison. We invite you to come and join us! Trust archaeologists will supervise the excavation, which will be of the upper layers of soil, above the remains of the circus. You don’t need any previous experience or to apply but there will be limited spaces so you must contact us in advance to book your place. Please note that this stage of the excavation will involve hard physical work – lots of shovelling, barrowing and carrying buckets – so you need to be fit to dig on Britain’s only Roman circus site!

Our new excavation is over part of the north-eastern side of the circus, quite near the starting-gates but at the end of the race course. We have already excavated a trench on the site and exposed the foundation of a buttress which supported this part of the external wall of the seating stand, and you will be able to have a look at the exposed foundation.

The open dig day will start at 9.00am and finish at about 4.00pm, and we would like volunteers to undertake the whole session. This session is for people aged over 16. There will be no charge to take part.  We will provide each excavator with all the necessary tools. Please bring your own refreshments (although there will be plenty of tea and coffee available) and appropriate clothing for the weather and for excavating. There is a WC on the ground floor of our building.

The nearest public car-park is on the corner of Mersea Road and Napier Road. Free car-parking is available on the area of rough ground (Bovis) off Stable Road, a short walk from Roman Circus House. If you bike or walk to the site, then please approach from Circular Road North: there is a private road to Roman Circus House. Look out for our circus flag!

We look forward to seeing you and to getting the top layers on the excavation site excavated!

Contact us by ‘phone on 07436273304 or by email at info[at]catuk (dot) org

Please look at our sketch map.

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