More information : (SD 476618) Roman vicus at Lancaster. Settlement was indicated
with the discovery of masonry and numerous Roman coins during the
construction of a house in Church Street in the 18th century. A
number of other finds (SD 46 SE 37, 46, 47, 56, 57 & 69) and
excavations in 1973-5 suggest the existence of a vicus, pottery,
coins and structural remains indicating occupation from AD 80
until 330. It is almost certain that Church Street represents
the line, more or less, of the main street of the vicus, leading
from the east gate of the fort (SD 46 SE ). The limits of
settlement seem to be marked by the river to the north by
Cheapside/St Nicholas Street to the west and Market Street
to the south. Excavation at No 1 Penny Street showed a probable
Antonine extension to the original vicus, so that the cemetery
at Cheapside (SD 46 SE 48) may have been at the limits of an
earlier smaller settlement. A substantial road branching
off the main line of Church Street and running towards the Dalton
Square area also revealed. "Substantial new construction", dated
to circa 330, was found in the southeast corner of Mitre Yard.
A bronze coin of Justinian I, circa 540, was found at Green Ayre
in 1977 and with 3 other early Byzantine coins found at
Lancaster seems to indicate continued contact between this area
and the Mediterranean in the 6th-7th centuries.
Below the Roman occupation levels at 65 Church Street sherds of a
Neolithic bowl of Mortlake type were found, disturbed by the
Roman building. (1-5)
(SD 47536185) Excavation in the cellars of No 73 Church Street,
Lancaster in 1978 revealed vicus levels. The main feature was
a ditch either for drainage or used as a fence boundary, associated
with fragments of a cobbled floor of mid second century date. It
was sealed between levels of first century and second century domestic rubbish containing coins and pottery, which included Samian ware.
Several levels of Roman Road surface were recorded in a trench in
front of No 41 Church Street in 1973. S. H. Penny in discussing the
vicus area gives its termination date as early to mid third century
AD, based on present pottery evidence. (6)
Remains of the civilian settlement, associated with Lancaster Roman fort. Scheduled. (7)
|