“The site I think has grown a real kind of following over the years, and there’s lots of different ages, I mean it’s absolutely great, and people who are just really engaged by getting in touch with the history of Carlisle in this incredibly kind of physical way, and you know, they’re here, they’re responsible for making new discoveries on a daily basis, it’s really exciting! Such a lovely thing to do. They’re all being carefully supervised by the professional archaeologists on site. It’s a professionally run dig with a lot of community. It’s just lovely!”

Dr Alice Roberts

“When I first saw the paw print embedded in the tile, I could not believe it! Immediately transported back 2000 years to when the tiles were in production. I felt very emotional imagining that cat walking over the drying tile and (wondered) which other animals were in the environment around the bathhouse at the time. Really Brought the site to life.”

“After a few days of digging you learn to temper the anticipation, but my heart skipped a beat! … Kevin’s (Archaeological Supervisor) … had taught me to be very slow and careful. I shouted OMG many times and could not say anything else, finally I nervously handed it (the artefact) over to Kevin who smiled broadly and said, “that’s very nice.”

“The Intaglios were amazing finds... Amazing to think they were hiding in drains under our feet that whole time!”

“This is the most significant cache (of intaglios) … I have studied at all for decades… and perhaps a few more to come” - Dr Reverend Martin Hennig

“My son was on-site… able to witness this – a memory for him to share in years to come.”

“I enjoyed using the metal detector the most. I discovered a Roman Nail and a big rusty lump of metal – I think it could be a roman knife! … It’s exciting wondering what it used to be.”