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Step back in time and see incredible Roman artefacts uncovered on the A66

People can view thousands of years of local history as a free pop-up archaeology exhibition tours the county this autumn.

Event Date

03 October 2026

This event occurs daily from
03 Oct 2026 to 15 Nov 2026

£ FREE

Description

Oxford Cotswold Archaeology will showcase discoveries uncovered during the National Highways A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project at five venues.

The tour starts at Warcop Parish Hall from October 3 to October 4, before moving to Appleby Public Hall from October 10 to October 11.

It will visit Kirkby Thore Memorial Hall from October 24 to October 25, and Penrith Rooms from October 30 to October 31.

The final events happen at Tullie in Carlisle from November 14 to November 15, where the artefacts will eventually be kept.

All events run from 10am to 4pm.

The excavations covered more than 66 hectares and spanned more than 550 days of fieldwork, involving more than 75 archaeologists.

Visitors can see items including a Roman statuette featured on the television show Digging For Britain, preserved Roman shoes, jewellery and prehistoric stone tools.

Helen Evans, archaeology project manager at Oxford Archaeology, said: “The discoveries we’ve made along the A66 provide tantalising glimpses of the past occupants of the Eden valley.

“How they lived and worked the land, their beliefs, the tools they used and even what they wore.

“There’s plenty of questions also, but the scattered clues people have left behind will let us piece together the history of this amazing landscape.”

Jessica Elleray, community engagement and social value manager at Oxford Archaeology, added: “Archaeology has real value beyond the discoveries themselves.

“It can help people connect with the places they live, learn more about their local history and feel part of the story of their community.

“By bringing this exhibition to the local area, we’re giving people the opportunity to experience that archaeology for themselves.”

Alan Ford, A66 heritage lead for Atkins Realis, said: “We knew as we planned the archaeological investigations for National Highways A66 North Pennine Route Upgrade that we were going to essentially rewrite what we understood about how human settlement has developed in the upper Eden valley over millennia.

“Those expectations have been matched and surpassed with identification of a fascinating history that spans almost 12,000 years.

“To bring this story to the communities along the route to which this story truly belongs was always a principal aim of the project.

“This series of superb travelling museum events is your chance to experience this fantastic journey across a landscape and across time.”