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Roman festival weekend at Vindolanda

THE famous Ermine Street Guard Roman soldiers and an authentic Roman cookery demonstration will form part of a special Roman Festival being held at The Vindolanda Museum and The Roman Army Museum on Saturday 30thJune and Sunday 1stJuly.

Organised by The Vindolanda Trust - the charity which runs The Vindolanda Site & Museum and the Roman Army Museum on Hadrian’s Wall - the event promises to immerse visitors in life on the Edge of the Roman Empire, complete with live excavations taking place.

Patricia Birley, director of The Vindolanda Trust, explains: “Vindolanda is a unique attraction where visitors get an authentic experience of what life was like on the edge of the Roman Empire and the work we are carrying out day-by-day to preserve this historic site.

“We see this weekend as a Roman Festival, celebrating life during this time and showing visitors the finds that we have discovered over the last 42 years and which are on display at Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum.”

At The Vindolanda Museum the Ermine Street Guard, who feature in the award-winning ‘Edge of Empire – The Eagle’s Eye’ 3D film ,shown at The Roman army Museum, which shows in incredible detail what life was like at Vindolanda for Roman soldier, Aquila, will be setting up camp.

Across the weekend 15 of the Guard will be talking to the public, showing artefacts such as food, tools and medical equipment and giving demonstrations including firing the traditional ‘Catapulta’ artillery.

Chris Haines, chairman and Centurion of the Ermine Street Guard said: “We are celebrating our 40thanniversary this year and have had a relationship with The Vindolanda Trust and the Birley family since 1975, so we’re delighted to be sharing this special year with them.

“Vindolanda is one of the most important Roman historical sites in Britain, if not the World, because of the wealth of artefacts that have been found and that are still to be found on the site. Personally, I love the position of Vindolanda as I find the hills and location very dramatic.”

Top Cumbrian chef, John Crouch, will be cooking up meals for visitors to try at the Roman Army Museum made from recipes and ingredients found during Roman times. John has a great interest in historic cooking. He says: “Roman cookery is fascinating as they cooked in a truly organic way, with a lot of hedgerow cookery, game, fish and grains. I’m looking forward to seeing people’s reactions when they taste the food I’ve prepared.”

The events at Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum will be free. Normal entry into Vindolanda & Roman Army Museum will apply. For more information & online tickets visit www.vindolanda.com . Tel: 01434 344 277.

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Media contact: Sara Fisher or Gill Burgess on 01434 606 155 / 07530 207 700 or saraf@r-evolution.co.uk / Gill@r-evolution.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sara Fisher .