One of the latest discoveries related to the Roman Empire has been made by a student from Newcastle University, no less than in her first archaeological excavation. This is Yara Souza, who debuted in the university’s Archaeology AB course this year, after becoming ill and missing the program from the previous year at a Roman military camp located along Hadrian’s Wall, Birdoswald Roman Fort. This area is of special interest to archaeologists, as it involves the remains of what was the road that crossed Northumberland. Moreover, an early medieval object was already discovered by metal detectorist Alan Gray in 2021.
Souza’s discovery occurred where the route of Dere Street was once found, the Roman road that connected York and Edinburgh, which also links two major religious centers: Jedburgh and Hexham. The professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Newcastle and Souza’s tutor, James Gerrad, expressed his excitement and joy over his student’s discovery and the significance it represents. This discovery not only marks an unforgettable event in the life of the young student, but it also has historical value that will be displayed at the Great North Museum: Hancock.
Redesdale, Northumberland
Redesdale is a valley located within Northumberland County, within the Northumberland National Park, formed by the River Rede. It is mainly characterized by the landscape and wildlife found there, as well as its historic village of Elsdon, the Otterburn military training area, much of the Kieler Forest, and as the icing on the cake, a region of Roman ruins. This area also hosts one of the most significant dark sky parks in Britain, the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, as well as the Catcleugh Reservoir or the Whitelee Moor national reserve.
Luck or skill?
What usually takes an archaeologist weeks or even months, for Yara Souza, a novice student, was a matter of 90 minutes. This finding took place in the region near what was once the Dere Street route, one of the most important Roman roads that connected Edinburgh and York. More specifically, it is in Redesdale, Northumberland. The young woman was participating in an AB Archaeology course at Newcastle University, where she collaborated with professional archaeologists from the North East Museum.
Participating in this program had added value for Souza, as she was unable to participate in the excavation of a Roman military camp along Hadrian’s Wall, at Bordsoswald Roman Fort, the previous year due to illness. This year she was able to participate accredited by the university, and she enjoyed a program that provides students with practical skills learning on the ground, using the latest high-tech archaeological methods. “After I had to miss Birdoswald last year, it was amazing to discover something that hasn’t been seen in over a thousand years,” the young woman stated.
What did Souza discover?
After 90 minutes of digging, Souza couldn’t believe his eyes. In disbelief, he unearthed what appeared to be a gold object approximately 1.5 inches long, with decorative embellishments. “I couldn’t believe I had found something so quickly on my first dig. It was actually quite overwhelming,” he said. Even his tutor and professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Newcastle, James Gerrard, stated, “This is an exciting find of exceptional quality, and I am delighted for Yara that she made this discovery at the beginning of her career as an archaeologist”.
The location where the object was found corresponds to a road that also connects two religious centers in Jedburgh and Hexham, and its composition is high-status gold that was only used by the elite. That is why experts believe it may relate to religious or ceremonial objects.
What now?
The importance of this finding lies not only in its speed and in the young archaeologist, but also in its historical significance in filling the empty gaps of the timeline of our history. This is why the finding will be investigated in depth, and later exhibited in the Great North Museum: Hancock.
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