What did archaeologists find beneath a London skyscraper?
A massive Roman basilica had been hiding under a modern office building for nearly 2,000 years.
The answer
In 2025, archaeologists discovered that a central London skyscraper sits directly on the foundations of a vast Roman basilica dating to around 78–84 AD. The structure was part of ancient Londinium, the Roman city that became modern London. The discovery revealed the remarkable scale and sophistication of Roman urban planning in Britain - the basilica would have served as a combined courthouse, town hall, and marketplace. The find demonstrates that significant archaeological treasures still lie beneath one of the world's most densely developed cities, and that Roman London was far more impressive than many historians had assumed.
Source: Artnet News - Archaeology Discoveries 2025
- roman-empire
- london
- archaeology
- urban-history
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