Last updated at 19:35, Thursday, 19 January 2012

A renowned British archaeologist has been nominated for a national award for work he has completed in Maryport.

WINNER: Tony Wilmott up for an award for his archaeological work at Maryport

Tony Wilmott, director of last year’s excavations at the Roman fort and vicus on Camp Farm, has been nominated in the Current Archaeology Awards in the archaeologist of the year category.

Mr Wilmot is senior archaeologist for English Heritage and is an authority on Hadrian’s Wall.

He said that his proudest archaeological achievement was the discovery at Birdoswald Roman fort, near Carlisle, of post-Roman timber buildings.

But he said his favourite moment of 2011 was the discovery that Maryport’s Roman altars had been used as packing in the post-pits of a huge late-Roman timber building which completely overturned previous ideas about ritual burials.

Mr Wilmott said: “Overturning established ideas by further excavation is a real highlight in any archaeological life.”

It is expected he will return to Maryport in the summer to continue the research excavation commissioned and funded by the Senhouse Museum Trust.

The archaeologist of the year is chosen by the public, and to vote for Mr Wilmott, visit www.archaeology.co.uk

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 19 January 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk