UNIVERSITY archaeologists are thanking community volunteers for their help in protecting, preserving and interpreting the remains of Hadrian’s Wall – and encouraging more people to get involved.
The National Lottery-funded WallCAP project was launched in 2019, and in its first year has recruited more than 200 volunteers to try to understand more about the condition of the Wall and help prevent further deterioration.
Led by Newcastle University, the three-year project is training people in specialist skills such as digital surveying and terrestrial laser scanning, as well as conservation and geological work.
As the project moves into its second year, the WallCAP team plans to highlight some of its successes so far and outline plans for 2020 at a community event for volunteers at Carlisle racecourse on Saturday, February 22, which will also be open to the public.
Dr Rob Collins, WallCAP project manager and lecturer in archaeology at Newcastle University, said: “January 24 marks the birthday of Emperor Hadrian so it seems fitting that we celebrate this by applauding the excellent work of the WallCAP volunteers.
“Thanks to their efforts, we are gaining a much better understanding of the Wall and are in a much better position to ensure its survival.
“There is still lots to do and we have many exciting activities planned for 2020 and beyond, so there will be many more opportunities for communities along the Wall to take part.
“Together, we can conserve a vital part of our heritage and ensure that it can be enjoyed by future generations of local communities and visitors for many more years to come.”
The activities carried out by the WallCAP volunteers in 2019 included new excavation work at Corbridge Roman Town.
The WallCAP project is also aiming to answer the question ‘where is our Wall?’ and is encouraging people to solve the mystery of the missing stones from Hadrian’s Wall. For more than 1,500 years, stones quarried by the Romans have been taken from the Wall to build local houses, farm buildings and field walls.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the project can register at wallcap.ncl.ac.uk
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