Deep Urban/Brownfield Sites

Drapers' Gardens, City of London

The works were undertaken in advance of comprehensive commercial redevelopment in the archaeologically important Upper Walbrook valley, where previous investigations over the last 30 years has demonstrated the survival of important archaeological remains of Roman and medieval date. Due to outstanding environmental conditions much of the organic content of the site such as wood and leather has survived intact. However, the most dramatic and important finds from the site were recovered from a well of 4th century date, the contemporary levels having been removed in the more recent past. This well contained an impressive 19 metal vessels, mostly composed of copper alloy or lead alloy but with two iron objects. The fieldwork was completed on time relative to the revised programme and PCA has now commenced the post-excavation process which will be delivered in two phases. The final phase being a detailed publication in a PCA Monograph, with delivery expected from 2013.

Found near the base of a well was a hoard comprising nineteen metal vessels almost all of which were in an exceptional state of preservation.

The copper alloy hoard just after being recovered

The remains of revetted ditches, which channelled the waters of the Walbrook

Part of the surviving archaeology emerges around the remains of the old building

Detail from a CAD phase drawing of Roman archaeological features

Tabard Square, London Borough of Southwark

An archaeological excavation was conducted by PCA in advance of a significant development by Berkeley Homes, at Tabard Square, the junction of Long Lane and Tabard Street, London Borough of Southwark. The archaeological investigation consisted of three trenches targeting post-medieval features and an area excavation of the Roman and earlier deposits and features.

Little prehistoric activity was revealed across the site, however this changed in the Roman period with an extensive landscape of features. The earliest Roman activities consisted of a dense cluster of postholes and stakeholes many were suggestive of structural remains.
Thereafter c. AD70 and onwards there was a transformation of the landscape.

A network of ditches were found, a Roman road and the remains of many clay and timber buildings. Two late 2nd century s Romano-Celtic temples were discovered with a series of masonry bases for plinths or altars. A significant Roman inscription mentioning the people of London was recovered from a cut feature around the precinct from one of the temples.

The large size of the site, c. 1.25 hectares, contributed to the recovery of some of the largest
finds assemblages from an individual site not only from Southwark but from the City of London. This was led by at least three finds of national importance: the Mars Camulus inscription, the bronze foot and the face cream canister. These have been an important source of research and such assemblages as the Roman coins that had nearly doubled the previous number of recorded coins from Southwark.

The excavation area with Guy's Hospital in the background

Archaeologists excavate postholes and stakeholes

This hugely important find is the first real monumental inscription with the words "of the people of London" on it.

A slightly larger than life bronze foot, possibly female, found at Tabard Square

The 'cosmetics container' - A complete small tin canister that still had its lid clamped firmly shut