Archaeologists in London uncovered a section of Roman masonry from a nearly 2,000-year-old town hall known as a basilica beside the forum of Londinium. Developers collaborating with the Museum of London Archaeology team discovered large, thick stone walls while excavating the basement of a commercial building. The basilica served as a central administrative site in Roman settlements. This excavation is notable, marking one of the crucial historical discoveries in London since the 1980s, highlighting the importance of archaeology in new British developments concerning heritage.
In one trench, we hit a massive piece of masonry – it was about three or four feet wide," says Sophie Jackson, director of developer services at the Museum of London Archaeology. "We extended the pit, and it kept on going. So basically, we got a huge piece of Roman wall, which represents part of the structure for the nave of this basilica, the central part of this town hall.
The Roman building known as a basilica was a crucial component of any sizeable Roman settlement of that era, much like an amphitheater, public bath or the fortified walls that ringed them. It's the sort of heart of any significant Roman town."
Archaeologists are required to be involved in new British developments when there is concern about heritage, and were particularly aware of this area's potential historical significance.
This discovery ranks among the most significant in the British capital since an ancient amphitheater was unearthed in the 1980s.
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