Pompeii of the North: London's most important excavation ever unearths Roman treasure
AN archaeological dig in the heart of the capital that has unearthed thousands of Roman artefacts has been hailed as "the most important excavation ever held in London".
Just yards from the River Thames - in what is now the capital's financial district - archaeologists have found coins, pottery, shoes, lucky charms and an amber Gladiator amulet which date back almost 2,000 years.
Situated on the largest swathe of the lost Walbrook River still remaining in the City, the wet conditions have created perfect conditions for the survival of archaeological material, giving an extraordinary glimpse into life in bustling Roman Londinium.
The archaeology on this project so far is probably the most important excavation ever held within London
Even objects and structures made of wood and leather – which normally rarely stand the test of time – have been discovered, leading archaeologists to dub the site "the Pompeii of the north."
Experts excavating the site, which lies alongside a huge building project for new offices on Queen Victoria Street, have uncovered wooden structures from the 40s AD around 40ft (12 metres) beneath the ground.
Sadie Watson, the site director from the Museum of London Archaeology, said: "Certainly the archaeology on this project so far is probably the most important excavation ever held within London, certainly within Roman London.
"The depth, the preservation, the extent of the archaeology - the entire Roman period is represented by fantastic buildings as well as artefacts."
The three-acre site, which was once on the banks of the River Walbrook, is also home to the Temple of Mithras, discovered in the 1950s.
Since then around 10,000 accessioned finds have been discovered by 60 archaeologists - the largest haul of small finds to have ever been recovered on a single excavation in the capital.