Roman London was founded on the banks of the Thames to take advantage of the tidal river for traffic trade and communications. But precisely where were the bridge and the harbor, and what did they look like?
The remains of Roman vessels had been found at County Hall, in Southwark, and at Blackfriars, but no sign of the port itself. Then, from 1973 onwards, in a long series of major archaeological excavations within the City, the ancient harbor was gradually revealed, often where it was least expected.
Dr. Gustav Milne is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.