'Incredible' 2,000-year-old Roman road discovered in London

2,000 twelvemonth aged Roman roadworthy discovered successful southeast London (Image: Southwark Council)

Archeologists person discovered a “remarkable” conception of 1 of Britain’s astir important Roman roads successful southeast London. 

Unearthed nether Old Kent Road, the 2,000-year-old roadworthy known arsenic Roman Watling Street ran from Dover done London to the West Midlands, connecting Britain with the wider Roman world.

The roadworthy was recovered portion enactment was being carried retired to grow Southwark’s low-carbon vigor web by the section assembly and utilities institution Veolia. 

Built soon aft the Roman penetration of Britain successful AD 43, it has present been identified by archaeologists - its find provides the archetypal carnal impervious that sections of the past way person survived beneath the modern roads. 

The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) confirmed the Roman roadworthy with proposal from the council’s in-house archaeology serviceman Dr Chris Constable.

The archetypal Roman roadworthy ran from Dover done London to the West Midlands (Image: Southwark Council)

Dave Taylor, the MOLA task manager, said: “It’s astonishing this conception of roadworthy has survived for astir 2,000 years. There has been truthful overmuch enactment present implicit the past fewer 100 years, from sewers to powerfulness cables, tramlines and of people the gathering of the modern road, truthful we’re truly excited to find specified a important chunk of Roman worldly remaining.”

The portion discovered was good preserved. It measures astatine astir 19ft (5.8m) wide by astir 5ft (1.4m) high.

Southwark Council said chiseled layers could beryllium seen which shows a coagulated instauration of compacted gravel sealed by 2 layers of chalk past topped with different furniture of compacted soil and gravel.

Dr Chris Constable said: “I’m pleased this task has answered our questions implicit the people of the Roman roadworthy southbound of the Cantium Retail Park wherever a conception was excavated successful the aboriginal 1990s, southbound of the enactment of the modern road,

"In the readying for this project, we’d expected to lick this question but the grade of endurance of the roadworthy is remarkable. We anticipation this task volition reply immoderate different archaeological questions successful the borough.”

John Abraham, main operating serviceman - Industrial, Water & Energy for UK, Ireland and Nordics astatine Veolia, said: "This caller discovery, unearthed during our infrastructure project, gives america a fascinating penetration into Roman construction. Whereas the Romans built aqueducts to transport h2o to cities, Veolia and Southwark Council are utilising a territory heating web to supply debased c vigor to homes successful the borough.  We are delighted to person played a portion successful this find which is an unthinkable illustration of wherever aged meets modern technology!"

The find volition beryllium marked by a motion connected the adjacent Old Kent Road bridge, which has undergone its ain translation successful caller years. It had a colourful makeover celebrating the area’s diverseness with a bespoke mural titled ‘A Home from Home’ made successful collaboration with the section community.