September 20, 2023 – A team of volunteer archaeologists in England have unearthed the intricately carved head of a statue believed to depict an ancient Roman empress. The discovery was made at the site of a Roman bathhouse, the largest known building on Hadrian’s Wall, located near Carlisle Cricket Club.
The head, measuring 18cm by 13cm, is remarkably detailed and finely crafted, surpassing the quality of two larger monument heads discovered at the same site earlier this year. Experts believe the head, which depicts a woman wearing a headdress resembling those favored by Empress Julia Domna, dates back to the same period as the bathhouse.
“It refers more to the Classical Roman style of sculpture,” said lead archaeologist Frank Giecco. While the identity of the woman depicted remains unconfirmed, the headdress offers a tantalizing clue. Julia Domna, wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, popularized this particular style of headdress during her reign.
This latest find adds to the impressive collection of over 4,000 artifacts recovered since excavations began in 2021. The site, initially thought to be solely a bathhouse, has revealed itself to be a multifaceted complex.
“It looks like thermal baths, a collection of disparate offices, religious and social spaces, recreational spaces and administrative spaces,” said Giecco, who expressed amazement at the volume and value of the discoveries.
The ongoing excavation, a collaborative effort between Carlisle Cricket Club, Cumberland Council, the Tullie Museum, and the Wardell Armstrong Archaeological Society, is open to the public daily until October 20th.