Plans for resuming joint excavation
I have just been down to Portus today to discuss plans for resuming our joint excavation at the Palazzo Imperiale with the Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Roma (Ostia Antica) in January. I hope that the results from this coupled with the screening of the BBC1 programme Rome’s Lost Empire on Sunday will remind people of the importance and richness of this unique site. Filming with Sarah, Dan, Jeff and Louise was a great experience and I am sure that their great professionalism will come across well.
Being involved in the film has reinforced my belief that as archaeologists we have a responsibility to do the best we can in getting across to the general public what it is that we do and how it changes the way we look at the past. I am also very much looking forward to be being able to welcome a new batch of students from the University of Southampton and partner institutions to the Portus field school that we are planning to run at the site for the first time in June and July of next year. It marks another stage in our ongoing research at the site.