Roman road uncovered in York (From York Press)
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Roman road uncovered in York
4:52pm Tuesday 11th December 2012 in News
By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk
Ian Milstead Lead Archaeologist from YAT cleaning Roman Road beneath York Minster.
A SECTION of Roman Road has been discovered beneath York Minster.
Archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust unearthed it during construction work on the new visitor development in the Undercroft, a Minster spokeswoman said today.
The archaeologists believe the road was a backstreet, part of the Via Quintana, and believe it ran behind the Roman basilica that once stood on the Minster site.
A Minster spokeswoman said: "The backstreet was used for hundreds of years and was frequently patched and repaired, falling into disuse at the same time as the Basilica itself."
The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said: “While it was not as grandly paved as the main streets of Roman York, you can imagine that this backstreet, situated as it was between the Basilica and the Praetorium, was exactly the kind of place where the real business of the Empire was done. It probably even witnessed the very first Christians on their way to worship.”
Ian Milsted, lead archaeologist from York Archaeological Trust, said: “Before this, there had been no archaeological excavations at York Minster for over 40 years, so it’s a huge privilege to be revealing pieces of the past in such an iconic building, all of it contributing to our picture of life in ancient York.’’
The Minster spokeswoman said the section of road would allow more analysis of remains found before, and the archaeological analysis on all this year’s Minster excavations will be released in February.
The new visitor attraction will be launched next summer and special events and activities are also planned as part of the Jorvik Viking Festival, with York Archaeological Trust.
Comments(16)
bagnall1928@yahoo.com
says...
8:02pm Tue 11 Dec 12
digging did I believe reveal the roman road then>?
oslo
says...
10:15pm Tue 11 Dec 12
capt spaulding
says...
10:23pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Rowntree Baby
says...
10:57pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Omega Point
says...
11:00pm Tue 11 Dec 12
What "real business" was that then? As Lurcio might say
pedalling paul
says...
11:00pm Tue 11 Dec 12
bagnall1928@yahoo.coNo...that was the Via Decumana under the present Treasurer's House.
m wrote:
The road was surely discovered years ago by the man working in the undercroft and heard the sounds of music and saw a band of what appeared to be roman soldiers walking along.
digging did I believe reveal the roman road then>?
Sounds like a plan though...perhaps I'll come back in a couple of Millenia and haunt York's by then old roads on my bike.....!
capt spaulding
says...
11:17pm Tue 11 Dec 12
meme
says...
9:02am Wed 12 Dec 12
M.Lucas
says...
9:47am Wed 12 Dec 12
More stories like this please!
Tim Cronin
says...
10:02am Wed 12 Dec 12
sheps lad
says...
10:38am Wed 12 Dec 12
Tim Cronin wrote:Don't forget the green paint!
A bit of Tarmac on there will finish it off a treat!
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
12:27pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Mr Udigawa
says...
12:35pm Wed 12 Dec 12
pedalling paul wrote:You could haunt the Clifton Green Cycle Path straight away if you like.
bagnall1928@yahoo.co m wrote: The road was surely discovered years ago by the man working in the undercroft and heard the sounds of music and saw a band of what appeared to be roman soldiers walking along. digging did I believe reveal the roman road then>?No...that was the Via Decumana under the present Treasurer's House. Sounds like a plan though...perhaps I'll come back in a couple of Millenia and haunt York's by then old roads on my bike.....!
pedalling paul
says...
4:59pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Mr Udigawa wrote:Oh ha bl***y ha.....!
pedalling paul wrote:You could haunt the Clifton Green Cycle Path straight away if you like.
bagnall1928@yahoo.co m wrote: The road was surely discovered years ago by the man working in the undercroft and heard the sounds of music and saw a band of what appeared to be roman soldiers walking along. digging did I believe reveal the roman road then>?No...that was the Via Decumana under the present Treasurer's House. Sounds like a plan though...perhaps I'll come back in a couple of Millenia and haunt York's by then old roads on my bike.....!
Sillybillies
says...
2:53pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Oh ha bl***y ha.....!
No one in joking!
Barstool Knowall says...
5:30pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Nothing much changed there in nearly two thousand years then! Wonder if the senate leader was Alexandrius the Great?