Welcome to Arbeia, or The Roman Fort at South Shields

I think I've worked out the kinks with the technology, so thanks for hanging in there. I have a bit of catching up to do with posts, but we'll get there.

On Sunday, several of us Earthwatchers, as we are called, went up to the fort for our orientation. Earthwatch, and in turn the dig project, has been hit hard by the state of the economy. Teams have typically been made up of 10-20 members, but this week's group has only four. Earthwatch volunteers provide the labor on this dig project, and without us here, the digging all but ceases. Hearing that was a grim start, but it also made us feel like the work we were about to start is very important. This week's team is made up of myself, Stephen (a 61-year old middle school principal from Perth, Australia), Keith (my age and a HS Biology teacher in Massachusetts), and Maggie (a junior at Worcester State). Stephen was here last year for two weeks and enjoyed it so much, he came back for another week this year.

The fort, which supplied Hadrian's Wall, is located at the top of the lawe (hill) looking down over the River Tyne to the north and the North Sea to the east. Victorian townhouses now surround the fort's perimeter, but at one point, they actually covered a large part of the grounds. When they were built, a small "Roman Ruins Park" was left in the center for all to enjoy. We've seen wonderful photographs of people strolling around with the men wearing top hats and the ladies with their parasols.

Directly across from the fort's main entrance is Hadrian's Primary School. Imagine growing up with a Roman fort reconstruction across the street from your school? That would have thrilled me to no end!

 

 

The fort, and it's museum, is a popular field trip destination. Buses of students arrive daily.

 

 

I am certain you can guess that the most popular item in the gift shop is...

 

...a sword!

Having the school nearby and lots of groups still coming through, has been a bonus for me. There are two weeks of school left before their summer holidays begin, so we haven't seen the last of them. The dig site is on a very public, high-traffic corner, so we get lots of people looking through the fence and curious children yelling, "Have you found any treasure today?"

 

 

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