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Archaeologists have discovered three new sections of an ancient Roman wall built along the River Thames some 2,000 years ago.
Known as the ‘Riverside Wall’, it once completed the perimeter of the more famous ‘London Wall’ which extends inland around the center of the city.
The barricade is believed to have been built to protect London – or ‘Londinium’, as it was known at the time – from uprisings by local tribes.
The newly excavated sections of the Riverside Wall are located at Riverbank House on Upper Thames Street and Sugar Quay and Three Quays on Lower Thames Street.
In total, they form about 100 meters of the almost 1800 meters long wall that closed London off from the Thames.
Archaeologists have discovered three new sections of an ancient Roman wall built along the River Thames some 2,000 years ago. Pictured: MOLA excavations at Sugar Quay showing the riverside Roman wall and the timbers of a Roman quay
Known as the ‘Riverside Wall’, it once completed the perimeter of the more famous ‘London Wall’ which extends inland around the center of the city
They were first discovered between 2006 and 2016 during redevelopments along Upper and Lower Thames Streets by the Museum of London Archeology (MOLA).
Now they have been added to the National Heritage List for England as Scheduled Monuments, as confirmed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with Historic England.
Duncan Wilson, the CEO of Historic England, said: ‘Even in a very densely populated city like London, built up over 2000 years, there are still mysteries to be revealed right beneath our feet.
“The wall along the river remains an intriguing element of Roman London that raises almost as many questions as it answers.”
The Riverside Wall would have severed London’s connection to the quayside quays and warehouses.
Mr. Wilson says this suggests that the concerned Romans valued defense over trade at a ‘time of uncertainty’ throughout the Roman Empire.
He added: ‘By adding these sites to the National Heritage List, we recognize their national significance and are able to manage their conservation closely, ensuring that they remain part of London’s rich story.’
The London Wall was made of Kentish ragstone, brought over from Maidstone, and was up to 20 feet (6 m) high and 10 feet (3 m) thick in places.
It originally stretched for about 2 miles (3.1 km) and encompassed an area of about 330 acres, but much of it has been destroyed over the last 1,700 years as the city grew.
In addition to protection – with the Riverside Wall forming a defensive ring around the entire city – the wall may have contributed to strengthening Londinium’s status.
Some sections of the Riverside Wall contain repurposed monumental stonework and demonstrate ancient Roman building techniques, so enhance our understanding of architecture during this period.
The barricade is believed to have been built to protect London – or ‘Londinium’, as it was known at the time – from uprisings by local tribes. Pictured: section of wall at Riverbank House
The sections were first discovered between 2006 and 2016 during redevelopments along Upper and Lower Thames Street. In the photo: the part of the wall at Sugar Quay
Now the three sections have been added to the National Heritage List for England as Scheduled Monuments, as confirmed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with Historic England. In the photo: the part of the wall at Sugar Quay
The section of the Riverside Wall below Riverbank House (pictured) is about 66 feet (20 m) long and up to 4.6 feet (1.4 m) high
The section of the Riverside Wall below Riverbank House is about 20 meters long and 1.4 meters high.
Archaeologists also discovered the remains of some wooden Roman quays used for loading and unloading boats.
About 150 feet (45 m) of the wall was found under Sugar Quay, as well as some constructions on the quay from the late 1st century and later medieval times.
Finally, 110 feet (35 m) were excavated at Three Quays, as well as timber posts made from reclaimed timber cornice or pediment from a building.
All three sections of the Riverside Wall have been left in situ underground, beneath modern buildings.
These well-preserved wooden quay and quay constructions from the Roman and Medieval period have also been given protection.