“Lost for Centuries: Ancient Roman Basilica Unearthed Beneath Modern London Office, Revealing Secrets of a Bygone Era!”
The Basilica’s Essential Role In Roman Londinium
The basilica was built just a few decades after the ancient Romans invaded Britain in 43 C.E., and it quickly came to play an important role in the city the Romans called “Londinium.”
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Peter MarsdenA sketch of what the Roman basilica looked like some 2,000 years ago.
Part of the city’s ancient forum, the basilica was once the beating heart of the fledgling Roman city. Set at the entrance of an open-air market, it would have drawn in ancient people who wanted to shop, those going to court, and people who simply wanted to mingle with others.
Within the basilica, government leaders would have convened to make important decisions about Londinium — and Britain at large — possibly at the very spot uncovered by the archaeologists, which appears to be the “tribunal.” This raised stage would have provided a platform for officials and politicians to meet and make decisions about Londinium.
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Leicester Museums and GalleriesThe basilica found in London likely resembled this artist’s rendering of a Roman forum which was uncovered in Leicester.
However, the basilica found by MOLA archaeologists was not used for very long. Archaeologists believe that the ancient Romans used the building and the surrounding forum for only about 20 years before constructing a much larger second forum, possibly a sign of how quickly the ancient city was growing.
In the end, it’s just the latest trace of Roman Britain to be found in London. In recent years, archaeologists have also uncovered a sprawling mosaic in the shadow of the Shard building, and a fully intact Roman funerary bed.
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