June 1, 2006
Time running out on key Roman London site
Archaeologists fear 1,000 years of history may be shovelled into skips as time runs out on a key site in London. Harvey Sheldon, an officer of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, called the situation at the church of St George the Martyr, in Southwark, where substantial evidence of Roman buildings may be destroyed without being recorded, "a disgrace". . .From the Guardian.Southwark, once seen by archaeologists as a nondescript marshy suburb on the wrong side of the river from the Roman city of London, has through recent excavations emerged as a key part of the Roman administration of Britain. Other sites a stone's throw away have produced startling Roman finds, including a tomb claimed to be that of a woman gladiator, the oldest inscription with the placename "Londinium", and a monumental bronze foot, all that remains of a huge public statue. Dr Sheldon believes the evidence from a contemporary major Roman building is now about to be destroyed without record at St George's.
Posted by David on June 1, 2006 10:04 PM
Such a thing would be patently illegal here...Construction is halted upon the sighting of a Preble's Jumping Mouse, a few indian arrowheads, or a possible dinosaur bone.
Posted by: doug in colorado on June 2, 2006 11:14 AM
I can see it now: all construction, rebuilding and refurbishing halted wherever it may be suspected that pre-20th century structures or artifacts might be found. Everything grinds to a stop as antique worship sweeps round the globe.
Posted by: Sarah on June 2, 2006 6:44 PM
This is what keeps contract archaeologists in business. They have to have contract archaeologists work on every construction project here in Washington DC(especially in Georgetown) before they get started. I like it personally...there is so much about the past that is incredibly fascinating.
Posted by: KSR on June 3, 2006 5:50 PM
cronaca.com