Archaeologists discover part of Colchesters ancient Roman wall

Archaeologists have discovered a part of the ancient Roman wall of Colchester, the oldest recorded Roman town in Britain.

London, March 20 : Archaeologists have discovered a part of the ancient Roman wall of Colchester, the oldest recorded Roman town in Britain.

Parts of the South Gate in the town were found while Morrisons in Queen Street, Colchester, were laying gas mains.

Philip Crummy, director and chief archaeologist of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, said that the remains found suggested that the original Roman gate had been refashioned in medieval times.

"We have been monitoring the gas works and came across the South Gate in the town," Gazette-News quoted Crummy, as saying.

"We know that was pulled down in 1818, so this is the first time anyone has seen it since then. It is quite interesting and gives us more information.

"It looks like when they rebuilt it in medieval times it must have had towers. We can see the foundations with the peg tiles so we can tell it is not Roman.

"We would have liked to have seen a Roman gate but this is just as interesting," he added.

The gates in Colchester were demolished nearly 200 years ago in order to widen the roads.

Parts of the East Gate were ripped down before the rest was removed. The Head Gate was taken down in 1760 and the South Gate in 1818.

"There were also some Roman remains at the South Gate which were probably used in the remodelling in the 13th century, if not later," Crummy said.

ANI