Living and Working in Roman and Later London: Excavations at 60–63 Fenchurch Street

Vaughan Birbeck & Jorn Schuster
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Description

Excavations in advance of redevelopment for a prestigious office building in the east of the City revealed 10 broad phases of activity, ranging between the pre-Roman and post-medieval periods, with a focus on the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

Roman Fenchurch Street follows the line of earlier ditches. For the first time, the entire width of the Roman road has been exposed, permitting adjustments of its course in the street plan of Londinium. Iron pipe collars demonstrate water management along the street and to the rear of the 2 plots identified on site. The 17 Roman buildings (later 1st–3rd century AD) show mixed domestic and commercial / industrial uses, including metalworking and butchery. 

Although disturbed by modern buildings, later Roman finds recovered from medieval and post-medieval pits indicate continuity of activity, but there is a genuine lack of Saxon occupation. A peculiar deposition of animal bone in a medieval pit may provide evidence for ritual/magic practices. 

Comparison with the adjacent site of Lloyd's Register demonstrates the considerable differences that can occur in the occupation history of two adjacent sites. The volume includes reports of the finds and environmental assemblages. 

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Published Published By Pages ISBN
Jan. 1, 2009 Wessex Archaeology 156 978-1-874350-52-1
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Copyright © Wessex Archaeology. This work is openly licensed via CC BY-NC-ND 4.0