Last updated at 20:35, Thursday, 19 July 2012

Excavations on Maryport ‘s Roman site have reached the half way point.

The dig team had already identified at least one “monumental structure” on a hilltop which overlooks the Roman fort and Senhouse Museum.

But now archaeologists believe that they have found evidence at Camp Farm of more than one structure, some of which would have been supported by large timber pillars.

Professor Ian Haynes, of Newcastle University, who is leading the excavation, said that a lot of interesting features were coming up.

He said a closer investigation of how these features relate to one another would help experts to establish a chronology for the site.

Prof Haynes said that the emerging picture appeared much more “complex” than it appeared on the basis of 2011 excavations of the site.

However, the excavations have been hampered by rainfall.

Last year’s excavation helped to prove that Roman altars found on the site had not been buried as part of a religious ritual but had been used in the foundation of the hilltop structures now being investigated.

The Senhouse Roman Museum Trust and Newcastle University last month started the second year of excavation of the Hadrian’s Wall Trust-owned Camp Farm.

The trust-funded excavation is understood to be costing between £60,000 and £100,000.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk