VINOVIUM
2014 - The Binchester Excavation Project
Season dates: June 29, 2014 – July 26, 2014
Application Deadline: 28 February for early access, second sound application
deadline 25 April
The Binchester excavation project is currently seeking enthusiastic excavators
to join our team for the 2014 season and help excavate a Roman fort and
expansive town near Durham in the UK.
Known to the Romans as Vinovium (“On the Wine Road”), Binchester
protected Dere Street, the main road that ran from the legionary headquarters
at York northwards to Hadrian’s Wall. It was a key element of the complex
frontier system that lay on both sides of the Wall, forming the edge of empire
for nearly four hundred years. Previous excavation has so far uncovered the
best preserved Roman bath house in the UK and some of the most impressive
mausolea seen on a Roman site for 150 years. Geophysical survey has
revealed a large town that stayed thriving long after the empire fell.
Across the river at Escomb is one of the oldest churches in Britain, built from
the stones of Binchester in the 7th century, still standing as a reminder of
the kingdom of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria, the heartland of Celtic Christianity
and land of Arthurian romance.
The project represents an international partnership between scholars at
Stanford University (USA) and Durham University (UK). Volunteers will spend 4
weeks excavating, processing artifacts, and visiting key archaeological sites
in this area of the Hadrian’s Wall frontier zone.
The cost of $ 4,500 (USD) covers housing in the medieval town of Durham, all
meals, archaeological instruction, and weekend field trips to Roman and
Medieval archaeological sites, including several along Hadrian's Wall. Flights
and travel to Durham are not included. Academic accreditation is possible (see
our website).
To apply and
learn more about the Binchester project, please see our website at http://www.vinovium.org/apply/
Any questions, please direct them to our team at vinovium@durham.ac.uk
