New Light on Dark Age London
Stephen Williams investigates the excavations at Leadenhall Court of the surviving portion of Roman London’s Forum- Basilica.
Last month saw the beginning of excavations at Leadenhall Court of the surviving portion of Roman London's great Forum-Basilica, a major project of rescue archaeology by the Museum of London, funded by Legal and General, the developers of the site, and the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission. By any standards it is of first-rate importance: the civic centre of Roman London, which was once the point on which all commercial and political affairs of this province converged. At eight acres, it was probably the largest Roman civic centre north of the Alps.
Like so many archaeological excavations, those at Leadenhall cover a long section of history, and much of the interest lies in the glimpses that will be gained of the very early Roman building on the site, and especially the possible reoccupation of London in the obscure sub-Roman and middle Saxon periods.
Like so many archaeological excavations, those at Leadenhall cover a long section of history, and much of the interest lies in the glimpses that will be gained of the very early Roman building on the site, and especially the possible reoccupation of London in the obscure sub-Roman and middle Saxon periods.
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