Ancient Roman “Service Station” Discovered In Southern England
Archaeologists with Oxford Archaeology expected to do a routine evaluation of some land in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, before the construction of a soccer field. Instead, they made major archaeology news in 2022 when they determined that an ancient Roman trading post once stood on the site.
To their delight, the archaeologists found evidence of a once-bustling “service station” from around the 1st century C.E. They uncovered evidence of an ancient inn, a blacksmith’s shop, and a temple, as well as metal items like pots and Roman coins that dated back to the reign of Emperor Nero.
Oxford Archaeology/Pen NewsArchaeologists were delighted with the surprise discovery of a 1st-century Roman “service station.”
“For such a small area, the sheer quantity of archaeology and the amount of finds is more what you’d find in an urban center like London really,” Oxford Archaeology project manager Andrew Greef raved about the surprise discovery. “It’s definitely significant, you don’t get very many opportunities to excavate roadside settlements along the lines of major routes.”
But the service station wasn’t the only exciting discovery that the archaeologists unearthed at the site. They also discovered military weapons, the remains of ancient livestock, and a cemetery from either the 3rd or the 4th century that was filled with nearly 90 graves.
Archaeologists dubbed the find a “once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”
