Conserve as Found?
A debate over the reconstruction or preservation of archaeological sites.
A full-scale reconstruction of a gateway of a Roman fort is taking place in South Shields. Laing (the building contractors) are building the west gateway of the Roman fort of Arbeia as part of a £500,000 scheme by Tyne and Wear County Council.
Simulations of this sort are rare in the British Isles but Tyne and Wear Museum Service hope projects such as this will raise public awareness of vanished architecture and provide visitors with a true picture of life in the first century. (At present of the other sites making up Hadrian's Wall around 115,000 visitors a year come to Housesteads; 93,000 to Chester Roman fort.) On completion the gateway will form part of the Roman Fort Museum.
The excavation of the Roman fort of Arbeia has been under way for many years – it was first uncovered in 1875. The fort was built circa AD 128 as part of the Hadrian's Wall defences, although it was not attached to the Wall, but placed at the mouth of the River Tyne, on the south bank in order to defend the eastern flank of the Wall and guard the nearby port. It was finally abandoned in the fourth century.
Simulations of this sort are rare in the British Isles but Tyne and Wear Museum Service hope projects such as this will raise public awareness of vanished architecture and provide visitors with a true picture of life in the first century. (At present of the other sites making up Hadrian's Wall around 115,000 visitors a year come to Housesteads; 93,000 to Chester Roman fort.) On completion the gateway will form part of the Roman Fort Museum.
The excavation of the Roman fort of Arbeia has been under way for many years – it was first uncovered in 1875. The fort was built circa AD 128 as part of the Hadrian's Wall defences, although it was not attached to the Wall, but placed at the mouth of the River Tyne, on the south bank in order to defend the eastern flank of the Wall and guard the nearby port. It was finally abandoned in the fourth century.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
