On the Expedition

When in Rome, they say, do as the Romans do. But what did the Romans do in England?

This extraordinary excavation site is in a quiet residential area with views of the River Tyne and the North Sea. For more than a decade, Earthwatch teams have helped map more than 1,000 square meters of pre-Roman and Roman settlement here, excavating jewelry, armor, game pieces, and ceramics.

You’ll work in groups of four or five, rotating among many tasks, including stratigraphic excavation using a trowel and brush, recording site data, site surveying, and sampling, cleaning, and processing finds. When you're not digging into the social changes of the Roman era, your recreational time can be spent along the most impressive stretches of Hadrian's Wall, enjoying local Geordie culture in South Shields, or in the historic cities of Newcastle, York, Durham, and Edinburgh—all easily reachable from our field site.

* Please note: some recreational time activities—such as an excursion to Hadrian’s Wall—will not be covered by the volunteer contribution and will be separate out-of-pocket expenses. All recreational time activities are optional.

Meals and Accommodations

Your team will enjoy local guest houses a five-minute walk from your work site in this pleasant, coastal resort town. The guest houses provide shared bedrooms, shared hot showers and bathrooms, and easy access to parks, beaches, pubs, and restaurants. With the North Sea in view, you'll be fortified by picnic lunches of sandwiches and fruit at the excavation site. You’ll also enjoy full English or continental breakfasts and hearty dinners at the guesthouse. You may even experience the treat of traditional English Sunday lunch.

About the Research Area

The region of Tyne and Wear is well known for its award winning beaches, amazing coastline, its wildlife, and its tranquil beauty. South Shields is located south of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and is situated within the Tyneside conurbation, a famous former industrial area. The area where you’ll work is in a coastal holiday resort, with many parks and good beaches nearby. Much of the area remains open and unspoiled, and the research site and accommodations lie are in a quiet, residential area overlooking the North Sea and the mouth of the River Tyne.