World History: Ancient Roman settlement unearthed on the outskirts of London

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Roman landscape beneath Syon Park in west London, with a Roman road, evidence of a settlement, lots of artefacts and unusual burials among the finds.

Around 11,500 fragments of pottery, 100 coins and jewellery were uncovered by the experts from the Museum of London Archaeology, along with burial sites containing human remains and a Roman road. The artefacts found also included two shale armlets, fragments of a lava quernstone and a late bronze age (1000-700BC) gold bracelet.

“The archaeology at Syon Park has given us a valuable, rare insight into the daily life of an agricultural village on the outskirts of Londinium (London) that would have supplied the Roman city and provided shelter for travelers passing through. It helps us build a picture of the Roman landscape and shows how the busy metropolis of Londinium connected with the rest of Roman Britain”, said Jo Lyon, a senior archaeologist at Museum of London Archaeology.

Archaeological excavations discovered a part of one of the most important Roman-British roads, connecting Londinium and the Roman town of Atrebatum, (today Silchester), which was located on the outskirts of the Hampshire County and presently is famous for its Roman ruins, dating back to 45 BC. The road also provided an opportunity to collect tribute from the settlements located along the River Thames.