There are reminders all over Manchester of its Roman beginnings, from the most obvious castle ruins of Castlefield, to small hints like the Mamucium reastaurant and bar, and the city’s long, straight roads. But it seems that there are still plenty of treasures to uncover, as recently more Roman remains were uncovered around Liverpool Road in Manchester city centre, with remains of a major Roman road and other artefacts being amongst them.
Archaeologists from Civic carried out the dig in the Castlefield area last week, with the artefacts being found just below street level on Liverpool Road. The remarkably well-preserved Roman remains mark one of the most significant archaeological finds in the city for more than two decades, according to Civic, and the shallow depth of the road brings the history of Manchester much closer to the current day – we are walking just above where civilians and soldiers would have almost 2,000 years ago.
Alongside the Roman road, settlement remains were also revealed, including industrial hearths, which together span the late 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The discovery of the hearths hints at an episode of industrial activity in this part of the ‘vicus‘ – otherwise known as a civilian settlement – a period when the settlement here was clearly thriving, and the road, features and artefacts will now be recorded for posterity.
There are hopes that some of the most significant finds could form part of an exhibition, providing an opportunity to showcase this remarkable discovery.
Ollie Cook, director of Civic’s archaeological and built heritage team, said: “This is one of Manchester’s most significant Roman archaeological discoveries in the past two decades, offering a tangible glimpse into daily life in Mamucium.
“It is an incredible moment to be able to stand on the same road walked by civilians and soldiers decades before, and it’s remarkable that it has remained so well preserved at such a shallow depth. The analysis of the dataset from the excavation will hugely improve our knowledge of Roman Manchester.
“Cultural heritage is key to sustainable placemaking, and it’s rare finds like these that tell a story for generations to come.”