Archaeologists have unearthed a souvenir of ancient Londonium, near London Bridge. Ancient Londinium is the historic city that was the provincial capital for most of the Roman Empire‘s control of Britain.
A remarkably intact Roman tomb has been discovered at Liberty of Southwark, a redevelopment project of a little-used site near London Bridge. The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) said this Roman mausoleum is the most intact example of its kind in Britain.
In February last year, archaeologists excavated the largest mosaics found in London for more than 50 years. This discovery was made in the same area.
The tomb was found surprisingly well preserved. The tomb itself was a two-story structure that was probably utilized by an affluent Roman family. Since there are currently no coffins or burial remnants present, MOLA speculates that they were probably taken during the Middle Ages. But the area contained more than 80 Roman item, including copper bracelets, glass beads, coins, pottery and even a bone comb.
Senior archaeologist at MOLA, Antonietta Lerz said: “This relatively small site in Southwark is a microcosm for the changing fortunes of Roman London – from the early phase of the site where London expands and the area has lavishly decorated Roman buildings, all the way through to the later Roman period when the settlement shrinks and it becomes a more quiet space where people remember their dead.”
“It provides a fascinating window into the living conditions and lifestyle of this part of the city in the Roman period.”
According to The Guardian 36 new houses, offices, and retail spaces will eventually be available as part of the Liberty of Southwark development. It will also cover the preservation of the well-known Crossbones Graveyard, a former pauper’s cemetery where as many as 15,000 individuals are said to have been interred. According to Southwark Council, these most recent archaeological finds will be protected and made available to interested locals.