London’s Spine: Roman Basilica Finally Erodes; Revelations to Follow
London’s ancient Roman basilica, lost to history for more than 1500 years, has finally given way to modernity. The foundations of the underground structure, believed to be one of Britain’s most significant and extensive Roman buildings, were dismantled last week during construction work in the heart of London’s West End.
Archaeologists, however, have assured the public that many revelations are still to come from the site. According to Tony Kushner, acting director of archaeological expertise at the Museum of London Archaeology — which has been carrying out an excavation since February 2021 — the next few weeks should reveal an “astonishing” amount about London’s Roman and pre-Roman heritage.
The structure that has now been largely uncovered was discovered in 1988 and has since been conserved in situ about 16 feet beneath the road’s surface. It comprises more than a dozen surviving and partly recorded concrete-floor pits with elaborate hypocausts, bronze-age artifacts, and a market stretching out at right angles to Fleet Street.
In recent months, more sections of the basilica’s south aisle have been unearthed, while workers have also revealed a series of adjacent buildings. These are predicted to be a temple precinct for the Roman god Mithras and a large public building.
As the demolition progressed last Friday, construction workers working around the site enjoyed a “mini-festival” beside the pit, a spectacle filled with the activities of raised cornucopiae, happenings of pre-Christian festivals, and the reverent melding of modern interpretations with the site’s evocative ancient significance.
In addition to this cultural tapestry, back in the spring of 2021, archaeologists discovered Roman pottery and animal bones, reportedly as clear evidence of the site’s pre-Christian occupation.
If it were not for ongoing phases of construction and excavation, it would have been all too easy to overlook the existence of the basilica and its underlying significance. Remarkably, the work is not only securely propping up the city’s foundations and navigating its modern infrastructure — it’s also facilitating high-tech archaeological techniques in order to access the secrets that remain hidden beneath the City’s surface.
Although dating back nearly 1,000 years before the construction of Arthur’s Round Table, the findings of London’s Roman basilica now have the potential to change our deep understanding of the capital’s prehistory.
Archaeologists at the Museum of London Archaeology enthusiastically researched the sub-Roman setting of Roman London, producing a new synthesis of archaeological and historical evidence in the hope of building models for the development and organization of the lower Thames basin between 350BC and the late 6th century AD.
The team intends for this study to be published in the near future, detailing amongst their findings evidence for a flurry of circular and square enclosures as well as developments in swamp and valley landscapes, small settlements, and occupation of the margins for the “sub-Roman” period.
The excavation at the site of London’s Roman basilica is tentatively progressing, with the next phase of work expected to allow an insight into the nature of the building and its operational role. According to Kevin Ward, the director of the London and Museum of Archaeology, this project is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” not only to re-imagine the capital’s pre-Roman and pre-Christian history but also to do so through innovative contemporary archaeological techniques.
Adam Lowe, the museum’s acting collections manager, insists that the decreasing process could also provide expert insight into illuminating human experiences from the past, stating that “digging it up does not necessarily equate to an understanding of it.” He went on to note that this view of ancient life is one that modern society desperately needs to uncover if it is to learn the lessons of history that have been preserved and to digest and enjoy the archaeological remains that will continue to surface from their depths.
Both Lowe and Ward called for continued public exhibition opportunities as well as digitization efforts for the preservation and interpretation of heritage and conservation initiatives. It’s a worthy ambition that’s sure to grow in importance as the structure continues to weather the tests of time and eventually begins to reveal its underlying secrets.
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London’s Lost Roman Basilica Discovered, Demolished
London’s Spine: Roman Basilica Finally Erodes; Revelations to Follow
London’s ancient Roman basilica, lost to history for more than 1500 years, has finally given way to modernity. The foundations of the underground structure, believed to be one of the most significant and extensive Roman buildings, were dismantled last week during construction work in the heart of London’s West End. Archaeologists have promised that many revelations lie in wait for the site, which has been conserved in situ for over three decades. Recently, more sections of the basilica’s south aisle, along with a series of adjacent buildings, have been unearthed. These structures are believed to be a temple precinct for the Roman god Mithras and a large public building. Although the demolition progressed on Friday, construction workers were enjoying a “mini-festival” beside the pit, filled with reverent modern interpretations and activities around pre-Christian festivals. Back in the spring of 2021, archaeologists found Roman pottery and animal bones, offering clear evidence for the site’s pre-Christian occupation. The work is not only securing London’s foundations and navigating modern infrastructure but also introducing high-tech archaeological techniques. Next, they intend to delve into the building’s operational role and continue excavations in the summer. The £170m redevelopment of the Shard’s offices, which straddles the site, sees Archaeologist, Kevin Ward, describing the project as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to re-imagine the capital’s pre-Roman and pre-Christian history whilst acknowledging the need for continued public exhibition opportunities, along with digitization for the preservation and interpretation of heritage initiatives.
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