VOLUNTEERS are being sought to undertake a project to solve one of the most enduring mysteries of the Lakeland fells.
The Lake District National Park Authority is organising an archaeological dig from August 8 to 21, called 'I'll Take the High Road', along a section of the possible road that the Romans built to traverse part of the Lake District, from Ambleside to Brougham Roman fort.
The route has long been the subject of speculation among enthusiasts and scholars. It takes in 17 kilometres, comprising several summits - the highest of which is High Street at 820 metres, named after this, the highest Roman road in England.
A generally accepted theory is that because of its gentle slopes and flat plateau, Roman surveyors may have built the road over the fell tops rather than through the valleys which, at the time, were densely forested and marshy thus making them susceptible to ambushes.
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The LDNPA is organising the surveys, research, and excavations.
"The High Street suffers from various causes of erosion but efforts to manage it and prevent damage are hampered by a lack of precise information about the route and extent of the monument, the mapped depiction of which is ultimately derived from an Ordnance Survey six-inch map hand-annotated to mark the extent of the scheduling in the 1970s," said a spokesman.
The aim is to find out where the road actually went, and if it was built as a formal route, or a track, which would have been in use since prehistoric times.
Volunteers will be working alongside professional archaeologists, performing research, surveys, and excavations, focusing on a small area on Bampton Common, south of Loadpot Hill.
LDNPA said: "We are going to use some recent surveys by Historic England to see if we can locate and identify the route of the Roman road.
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"It also provides an opportunity for the local community to investigate and find out about the Roman archaeology on the common."
Volunteers are asked to bring along enough provisions for a full day, as there will be no welfare facilities, and the day will involve a 'strenuous walk' to and from the site.
To find out more, e-mail archaeology@lakedistrict.gov.uk.
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