As the UK hosts the Festival of British Archaeology (18 July to 2 August), an annual extravaganza of heritage events coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, the Isle of Wight is offering visitors the chance to join leading Oxford University professor, Sir Barry Cunliffe, and his team of archaeologists on the Big Dig 2009 (2-22 August) as they re-examine the Roman Villa discovered on the Isle of Wight in 2008.

Brading Roman Villa (www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk) is already known as one of the finest Romano-British archaeological sites in the UK, but in 2008 the first in a new series of excavations unearthed one of the largest and best-preserved Roman villas yet discovered in Britain. Such was the excitement about this excavation that 30 archaeologists from America and Europe were involved.

Built 1,800 years ago, the building is as vast as an Olympic swimming pool and shaped like a church with a central nave and two side aisles. Visitors to the site currently get a guided tour with an explanation of how the excavation work is progressing, while a range of provisions are in place for visitors and students from Key Stage 1 to Postgraduate level.

The second phase of this year’s Big Dig at Brading Roman Villa will hopefully unearth new and important finds to shed light on the origins and context of the site. Last year’s findings included a bracelet, several rings, a fibula brooch and a second-century coin of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius, who rule the Roman Empire between 161 and 180AD.

Visitors can choose from a range of volunteering opportunities and while budding ‘archaeologists’ must commit to the entire two-week programme, shorter 3-hour sessions including washing, labelling and photographing the finds as well as escorting groups of visitors around the site (training provided) and even making the tea for the hard-working diggers are available.

The Isle of Wight, known to the Romans as Vectis, was thought to have been one of the Romans’ preferred areas to live because of its mix of farming soils and building land. A further Roman villa in Newport has one of the best preserved domestic bath suites in the country and is also well worth a visit. For more information, visit www.iow.gov.uk.

The Big Dig 2009 volunteer application form can be downloaded from
www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk, or e-mail thedig@bradingromanvilla.org.uk
All volunteers must be aged 18 or over.

It’s simple to get to the Isle of Wight, there are up to 350 ferry crossings a day from Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea. Once you’re there it’s easy to get around, ferry routes connect directly with the Island’s road, rail and coach links.

For details on how to get to the Isle of Wight, where to stay and what to see and do, visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk or telephone 01983 813813.