| Abstract: |
A report concerning buildings and occupation evidence in the area from the first two centuries AD, written in five sections beginning with an Introduction (1--2). Section two provides synopses of six excavations from 1972--1980 in The sites: archaeological sequence and summaries (3--66) dealing firstly with a report on the earliest evidence from AD50 at `Newgate Street (GPO 75)' by S P Roskams (3--26). `Watling Court, 39--53 Cannon Street, 11--14 Bow Lane (WAT 78)' by D Perring (26--44), along with `1--6 Milk Street (MLK 76), 7--10 Milk Street (MIL 72)' by S P Roskams with P Allen (44--51), `Well Court, 44--48 Bow Lane (WEL 79)' by P Allen with D Perring (51--7), and `24--25 Ironmonger Lane (IRO 80)' by J Norton (57--63), provide evidence of building activity during the earlier Flavian period, a destruction layer attesting to the Hadrianic fire, and second century AD rebuilding. Specialist notes also cover `Dating evidence and finds' by F Grew (63--4), `Tree-ring analysis of Roman timbers from Watling Court' by J Hillam (64) and `The dark earth' by S P Roskams (64--5). Part three looks at The buildings by D Perring (67--107). Aspects considered include construction and appearance and how locally available materials influenced these factors. Brickearth, clay and oak were used for most structural purposes; stone was first used in quantity in period IV foundations at Watling Court (c AD 80--125). Tegulae and imbrices were used in walls but apparently not for roofs, and it is thought that buildings were laid out to prepared plans and that detailed property records were kept. There are reports on: `Building materials' (67--8); `Preparation for construction' (68--71); `Walls' (71--84); `Wall finishing' (84--7); `Fencing and scaffolding' (87--8); `Floors and mosaics' (includes `The mosaic at Milk Street' by D J Smith (94)) (88--94); `Roofing' (94--5); `Internal appointments' (95--9); `Organisation within the insulae: property boundaries and services' (99--101); `Building design and use' (101--6); and `The context and development of building traditions in Early Roman London' (106--7). Section four deals with The topographical and functional characteristics of the settlement west of the Walbrook, by S P Roskams with P Allen (108--18), which was planned around an east-west axial street. Changes at either end of this alignment suggest the original limits of occupation and imply that a large settlement was intended from the start. This is supported by the distribution of early burials. Sections include `The limits of the settlement' (108--12), `The street system' (112--17) and `Exploitation of raw materials' (117--18). It is argued that the development of London was at no stage haphazard or uncontrolled. It was laid out before the Boudiccan rebellion and became built up during the Flavian period. Occupation continued even after the densely settled town was destroyed in the Hadrianic fire but all areas show signs of decay by the end of the second century AD. The last part, Conclusions by S P Roskams (119--21), sums up the evidence on London's origins, the Hadrianic fire, late second century AD decline, and priorities for future research. There is also an `Appendix: Level III reports' (122). Au(adp) |
