Archaeologists unearthed a well-preserved Roman road while expanding low-carbon heating infrastructure for thousands of homes.
The discovery, announced Wednesday by the London Borough of Southwark, reveals a section of Watling Street, a Roman road constructed shortly after the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD.
Prior to this find, the precise route of Watling Street in this area was largely unknown.
While the general location was anticipated due to the characteristic straight alignment of Roman roads, this discovery offers concrete confirmation.
A team from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), working with Veolia and RPS, a Tetra Tech Company, uncovered segments of the 2,000-year-old road beneath Old Kent Road, according to the release.
“This intact section of Roman Watling Street, directly under Old Kent Road, significantly alters our understanding of Southwark’s Roman road network and provides insights into Roman construction techniques. It’s a crucial discovery for London’s archaeological research,” stated Gillian King, RPS’s director of archaeology.
The unearthed section exhibits distinct layers, providing valuable information about its construction.
Measuring 5.8 meters wide and 1.4 meters high, the road boasts a robust foundation of gravel, overlaid with two chalk layers and a final layer of compacted sand and gravel.
“It’s remarkable that this road section survived nearly 2,000 years. Given the extensive activity in this area—sewers, power cables, tramlines, and road construction—finding such a substantial Roman remnant is incredibly exciting,” commented Dave Taylor, MOLA’s project manager.
A marker will be placed near Old Kent Road Bridge to commemorate the discovery.