Roman Homes, Medieval Churches Found
The excavations are part of a major dig involving a team of 60 archaeologists from the University of Leicester.
Over the last three years nearly 10 percent of the city center has been excavated prior to the construction of new commercial and residential development.
The dig has produced a wealth of artifacts from the period when the Roman Empire ruled Britain, from about A.D. 43 to 410.
In addition to Servandus' curse tablet, the Roman townhouse excavation has produced another curse tablet that has yet to be translated, along with thousands of shards of pottery, Roman weighing scales, coins, brooches, gaming pieces, animal bone, and hairpins.
At other sites in the city the archaeologists have uncovered medieval churches dating from the 11th to the 16th centuries, as well as graveyards with more than 1,600 burial sites.
The archaeologists also found a medieval street frontage of four properties, one of which had evidence of a brewery in its backyard.
Free Email News Updates
Best Online Newsletter, 2006 Codie Awards
Sign up for our Inside National Geographic newsletter. Every two weeks we'll send you our top stories and pictures (see sample).
|
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
|
