Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust
Life in Roman Carlisle
For:
Duration:
KS 2
2 hours
These notes are intended as a guide for teachers who have been
to the INSET session on Life in Roman Carlisle and are running
the session independently. They are also for the information of
those who are attending a session led by one of our staff
Before the Visit
To run this session you will need to bring 5 adults to guide the
children on the 5 tables that they will explore in the session.
To make life easier for yourself and the other adults that you
will bring on the day, we suggest that each adult takes one of
the tables/characters and stays on that table whilst the children
rotate around each table. The member of Tullie Houses staff
that will be guiding the session will spend a few minutes before
the session begins showing you and your adults the tables and
activities.
Please draw particular attention to the Health and Safety notes
that are included in this pack.
On arrival
Please go to the main reception desk and hand in your
confirmation of booking and your signed Health and Safety form.
If your class need the toilet we advise you to use the main ones
in the reception area.
A member of Tullie House Learning team will be contacted and
you will be taken to your session.
There is space to leave coats outside the Activities Room but if
you have bags as well it is better to ask at Reception for a coat
bin.
Before the children enter the Activities Room please remind
them not to touch anything.
Format of the session
Using replicas and original artefacts discovered in Cumbrian
excavations we have created 5 characters for your class to
explore in order to build up a picture of the type of people who
lived in Roman Carlisle.
Each table has different tasks to consider in order to build up a
picture of the type of person who could have owned the
objects. The tasks involve working in pairs or as a whole group.
The emphasis is on the children exploring and investigating;
using their findings to create characters, rather than on right
and wrong answers.
The session will start with a small introduction explaining the
above points to the class and how to handle objects safely. This
will be followed by the children rotating around the 5 tables.
The session will conclude with each table feeding back about
the last table they were on.
Yellow Table
Complete the following tasks to help you identify
who owns these objects.
1. Sit at the table and spend a few minutes exploring the
objects.
2. Evidence Investigation:
 Split into two groups.
 Each group take it in turns to visit the two activity
tables – Animal Bones and Seeds and Grains
 When both groups have taken their turns gather
together in front of the Evidence Board and stick the
images of your answers on it.
3. Statement Game:
As a group read the statements on the table and decide
which apply to your character. Stick your chosen
statements on the Evidence Board.
4. Using the Evidence Board decide who you think owned
these objects.
Turn over the card to reveal what we think your
character looked like.
When you have finished please put the statements and images
back on the tables for the next group to use.
Seeds and Grains
1. Take it in turns to look at the contents of the little
boxes.
2. Use the What seeds did you character grow? sheet
on the table to identify the seeds.
3. Only share your answers with the other group when
you have finished both activities.
What seeds did your character grow?
Oats (grain); a common food
grown in Britain before and
after the Roman invasion.
Leeks (seeds); these were
brought to Britain by the
Romans. Celts liked them and
started to grow them too.
Grapes (seeds); these were
grown in warm climates and
were used to make wine.
Olive stones (pits); these were
grown in warm climates and
were used to make olive oil.
Broad Beans; these were
brought to Britain by the
Roman. Celts liked them and
started to grow them too.
Animal Bones
1. Take it in turns to look at the bones on the table.
2. Use the What animals did your character have?
sheet to identify the animal bones.
3. Only share your answers with the other group when
you have finished both activities.
What animals did your character have?
Cow Jaw; cows were a good
source of meat and their skin
could be turned into leather.
Horse Leg Bone; horses were
important to the Celtic people.
Caesar wrote that the Celts
were skilled chariot riders.
Horses were also used in
farming and for transport.
Sheep Leg Bone; sheep were
very important as their meat
and wool could be used.
Dog Jaw; Britain was famous in
the Roman Empire for its
hunting dogs.
Wild Boar (pig) Shoulder
Blade; wild boars were in
Britain before the Roman
invasion. They were hunted
rather than farmed.
Cow Shoulder Blade; these are
often found with holes in
them. The holes are where
they were hung on a hook to
dry. Drying meat stopped it
from rotting.
Character Statements
Most of the things I own are made from wood,
leather and bone. These might not survive for
archaeologists to find in the future.
My most important possessions are my weapons.
I am a Roman.
I live in the city.
I live in the country.
I like Celtic designs and jewellery more than
Roman.
I grow oats and trade them to the Romans. I get
paid in Roman money.
I am a Celt.
My most important possessions are my tools.
I worship the new Roman gods.
I worship the old Celtic gods.
Object Notes
This is a statue of a Celtic god. It is a replica
of one we have in the Roman section of our
Border Gallery. There are lots of theories
about who this god represents – it could be a
hooded deity representing fertility, or even
the Celtic god of sleep.
This is a replica hand sickle used to cut down
crops. It is made from iron and wood.
This is a replica wooden bowl. This would
have been hand carved. Wooden tableware
was found in poorer households – richer
people would have owned plates and bowls
made from pottery.
This is a replica coin. It is from the early
imperial period and features the head of the
Emperor Nero who ruled from AD 54 – 68.
This is a replica shoe. It is handmade from
soft leather – this is ideal for indoors but not
so useful outdoors, especially in our climate!
These are replica farming tools. They look
very similar to the tools we still use today in
our gardens, the only difference being the
animal horns as prongs on one of the rakes.
Blue Table
Complete the following tasks to help you identify
who owns these objects.
1. Evidence Investigation:
 Split into two groups.
 Each group take it in turns to visit the two
activity tables – Pottery Sorting and Character
Objects. At the end of each task fill in the gaps
on your group’s Evidence Sheet.
2. As a group discuss what type of person owns these
objects – were they Roman or Celt? What was their
job?
Turn over the card to reveal what we think your
character looks like.
Evidence Sheet
Finish the sentences as a group.
Pottery Sorting Table
The Mortarium pottery on the table came from...
The Samian pottery on the table came from...
The Nene ware pottery on the table came from...
The Amphora pottery on the table came from...
Character Objects Table
The VINUM on the table came from...
The OLEUM on the table came from...
The PALMULAE on the table came from...
Character Objects Table
1.Look at the storage pots on display. What do you think could be in them?
2.Use the Latin Guide to translate the words on the pots and find out
where they came from.
3.Write down where the pots came from on your Evidence Sheet.
4.Look at the rest of the objects on the table. Use the Object Guide sheet
to work out who owned the objects and what job they did.
Latin Guide
Latin
VINUM
English
Wine
Where they came
from
Lots of countries made
wine.
The best wine came
from Italy.
GARUM
Fish Sauce
The best quality fish
sauce came from Spain.
GLIRES
Dormice
OLEUM
Olive Oil
These were raised in
cages rather than caught
wild, so any country
could have them.
Italy was the best place
to get olive oil.
COCLEAE
Snails
Edible snails are found
all over the world.
PALMULAE
Dates
These came from the
middle east. Egypt’s
were favoured.
BRASSICA
Cabbage
Mediterranean
countries.
Picture
Object Guide
Enamelled Hunting Dog
Brooch; this is a Roman design
using Celtic techniques. These
were popular with Romans.
Pen-annular (this means
‘nearly a ring’) Brooch; this
style was created by Celts and
is still used today.
Steelyard Weight; a steelyard
is a type of scale used to weigh
things. This weight is made to
look like a Celtic God.
Shoe; this shoe is Roman in
style and has FELIX written on
the bottom which means
‘lucky’ in Latin.
Torque; these were created by
Celts and were usually worn
around the neck.
Pottery Sorting Table
1. Read the descriptions in the baskets and place the pieces of pottery into
the correct one.
2. Choose your favourite piece and discuss with your group about what you
think it would have looked like when whole.
3. Remove the cloth from the hidden objects.
Did you guess right about what your favourite piece looked like?
4. Fill in the gaps on your group’s Evidence Sheet.
5. Put the cloth back over the objects and take the pieces of pottery out of
the baskets ready for the next group.
Pottery Sorting Baskets Descriptions
Amphora Pottery
Thick, chunky, orange-beige pottery.
They were used to store food and drink on long journeys and in shops.
These pieces came from Spain.
Samian Pottery
Fine, glossy, red-brown pottery.
This good quality pottery came from France or Germany
It would be expensive to buy.
Nene Ware Pottery
Thin, grey-peach clay coated in brown-black paint.
Good quality pottery but not as expensive as Samian.
It was made in the middle of England.
Mortarium Pottery
Medium, gritty, orange pottery.
These were used to mix and grind food together.
You can see the grey bits of grit in the clay.
This one was made in Cumbria.
Object Notes
This is a replica shoe. Similar ones have been
found in Carlisle dating from after AD 100.
When Romans first came to Carlisle they wore
traditional sandals, but soon realised they
were not suitable for Cumbrian weather!
These shoes were more hard-wearing and
offered greater protection from wet ground.
There are hobnails in the bottom that spell
out the word FELIX which means ‘lucky’ in
Latin.
This is a torque necklace, torque meaning
‘twisted’ in Latin. It is a Celtic design and
would usually have been made of gold. This
would have been worn by a community leader
as a symbol of power and were not worn by
Romans.
This style of brooch is a pen-annular which
means ‘nearly a ring’. It was designed and
created by Celts and is still worn today.
This is a steelyard and a weight. A steelyard
is a type of scale used to weigh things. The
weight is in the shape of a head of a Celtic
God.
This is a brooch in the shape of a hunting dog
from the 2nd century. It was worn by Romans
but is a Celtic design – England was famous
for its powerful hunting dogs.
Green Table
1. As a group:
Match the object labels to each object.
2. As a group:
Talk about who you think these objects
belonged to. Could there be more than one
person on this table?
3. Individually:
Pick your favourite object and take a closer
look using the magnifying glass. Fill in the
Object Observation and Record Sheet.
Turn over the card to reveal what we think
your character looks like.
Object Observation and Record Sheet
1. Pick an object.
2. Is the object whole or broken?
3. What is the object made out of:
Wood
Plastic
Bone
Pottery
Metal
4. What do you think the object was used for?
5. These objects could be found in the home, which room do you think
your object could be used in?
6. Now draw your object in the box below. LOOK CLOSELY! Draw as
much detail as you can see.
Object Labels
Spoon
This bronze spoon has a piece missing. It may have been used for food.
Oil Lamp (orange coloured)
This is a replica oil lamp. Romans used olive oil as a fuel.
A piece of cloth was used as a wick.
Spindle and Wool
This spindle can be used to spin raw wool into yarn. The yarn can then be
woven into cloth. This was a woman’s job.
Key
The Romans used lots of different keys to keep things safe.
Lamp Holder
This grey lamp holder is a replica. It was used to hold a lamp with no handle.
Statue
This could be a statue of the Roman goddess Victory. This was a favourite
among women and may have been kept in a shrine in their room.
Needle Case
This needle case is a replica of one in the museum. A sewing kit would be an
essential item for women as they spent a lot of their time making clothes.
Knee Brooch
This bronze brooch has the pin missing. This type was brought to Britain by the
Romans. Brooches were very important and worn by everyone to keep their
clothes on!
Ligula (scoop)
This tool was used to scoop out make-up and medicine from jars and wax from
ears! This is made from copper.
Clothes Fastener
We think that this was used like a toggle on a modern duffle-coat.
It is made from bronze.
Mouse
Roman toys were often made from bronze.
This is a replica of a popular toy.
Doll
This is a replica of a doll’s head from Roman Britain.
Large Sandal
This is a replica of a ladies shoe. It is a Roman design. It looks just like a
modern sandal.
Needle
This is made from bronze. It is used for sewing.
Bracelet
This bead bracelet is a replica based on a Roman design. It would have
belonged to a woman.
Small Shoe
This is a replica of a child’s shoe. It is made from one piece of leather.
Marbles
These marbles are made from clay. They were used in games by children.
Hairpins
One replica is made from bronze, the others are replicas of hairpins made
from bone.
Comb
This is a replica of a Roman comb made from wood.
Manicure Set
This is a replica manicure set that includes tweezers and fingernail cleaners.
Object Notes
This is a spoon with a broken handle. It is
from 2nd century and is made from brass and
tin. It would have been used for handling
food. The long end may have been pointed to
open shellfish.
This is a toy mouse made from bronze. It is a
replica of a popular Roman toy.
This is a replica oil lamp made from pottery.
Romans used olive oil as fuel and pieces of
cloth for wicks.
These are replicas of hairpins that would
have been made from bone. Celtic women
wore their hair down and so would have had
no need for hairpins, unless they were trying
to fit in with Romans.
This needle case is a replica of one in the
museum. A sewing kit would have been an
essential item for women as they spent a lot
of time making their own clothes, particularly
poorer women.
This spindle can be used to spin raw wool into
yarn. The yarn can then be woven into cloth.
This was a woman’s job.
This grey lamp holder is a replica. It was used
to hold a lamp with no handle so light could
be carried from room to room.
This is a replica of a child’s shoe. It is made
from one piece of leather.
This is a replica of a lady’s shoe. It is a
Roman design and looks just like a modern
sandal.
This bead bracelet is a replica based on a
Roman design.
These marbles are made from clay. They
were used in games by children.
This ligula (scoop) is made from copper and
was used to scoop make-up out of jars and
wax from ears!
This needle is made from bronze and is used
for sewing.
This could be a statue of the Roman goddess
Victory. She was a favourite amongst women
and may have been kept as part of a shrine in
their room.
This is a replica hairpin made of bronze. This
would have been worn by a Roman woman.
This knee brooch has a pin missing. This type
of brooch was brought to Britain by the
Romans. Brooches were very important and
worn by everyone to keep their clothes on!
This is a clothes fastener and we think it was
used like a toggle on a modern duffle coat. It
would have been sewn on to the piece of
clothing and is made from bronze.
The Romans used lots of different types of
keys to keep things safe.
This replica manicure set would have been
used by men and women. It has tweezers, an
earwax spoon and a tool for cleaning your
fingernails.
This is a replica of a doll’s head from Roman
Britain.
This is a replica of a wooden comb. The
design has hardly changed from Roman times
until now. One side may have been used as a
nit remover as they have been found with lice
in between the teeth!
Purple Table
Use your senses to explore these objects and help
you identify who owns them.
1. Smell:
Your sense of smell is heightened when you close your
eyes. With your partner take it in turns to place a smell
under each other’s nose and see if you can guess what it is.
You can use a blindfold if you want. Write down your
description of the smell.
2. Touch and Sight:
Use the What Am I? cards to work out what each object is
and who might have owned them.
Turn over the card to reveal what we think your
character looks like.
Object Notes
This is a replica of a belt worn by a soldier or
ex military man, called a king militari belt. It
indicated rank and status.
This is a replica bowl made from Samian
ware. Samian ware came from Gaul (the
Roman name for France) and would have been
imported and therefore expensive.
This is a richly decorated replica manicure
set. It would have been worn hanging off your
belt to display your wealth. It has tweezers,
nail cleaners and ear furkers to clean your
ears.
This is a replica of a decorative brooch worn
to fasten clothes together.
This knee brooch has a pin missing. This type
of brooch was brought to Britain by the
Romans. Brooches were very important and
worn by everyone to keep their clothes on!
This is a standard. It would have been carried
in battle by a standard bearer whose job it
was to protect it at all costs.
Red Table
1.Spend a few minutes exploring the objects.
2. Mime and Guess Game:
 In pairs take turns to think about an object on the table
that you recognise (don’t tell your partner what your
object is).
 Think about how it was used.
 Then mime how you think it would be used to your
partner.
 Can your partner guess which object you chose?
 Did they guess correctly?
3.Now turn over the card to reveal what we think
your character looked like.
4.Save an object :
If there was a fire and the owner of the objects could only
save one of their objects which one would they save and
why?
Talk about this in your pairs and then share your answer
and the reasons why with the rest of the group. If you have
time left over, draw the object.
Object Notes
This is a spearhead used by a Roman soldier.
It would have been much sharper and shinier
2000 years ago. The wooden pole it would
have been fixed to has rotted away over time.
This is an axe head made of iron. It is still
very sharp. The wooden pole it would have
been fixed to has rotted away over time.
This is a needle used to repair clothing whilst
on the march. It doesn’t look very easy to
use!
This is a coin with the face of Emperor
Hadrian on it. Hadrian ruled from 117 – 138
AD. Roman Emperors used coins as
propaganda tools to show their wealth and
power and commemorate victories in battle.
This is a replica of the dragon brooch we
have in the Roman Frontier Gallery. It is a
Celtic design that would have been sold to
Romans.
This is a bowl made from grey ware pottery
made in Britain.
This is a whetstone used by soldiers to keep
their weapons sharp – it would have been
essential to carry whilst on the march.
This is a gaming board with counters. It
would have been carved into a rock by a
soldier using one of his weapons. It may have
kept him entertained during battles.
This is the sole of a shoe. It has to be kept
inside the box as oxygen would rot it away.