Comments on: The Spitalfields Roman Woman

By: David Lawson

David Lawson — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 16:21:37 +0000

My father was born in 1914 in Fort Street, which ran across that site and was demolished to make way for the “new” Spitalfields market. It is strange that the Roman remains were not revealed in the 19th century when the two rows of three and four-storey houses were built. The laterst excavations would have produced artifacts from the cellars and rubbish dumps of his time.

By: Jerry B

Jerry B — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 07:29:13 +0000

The dig was covered at the time by the BBC TV series ‘Meet The Ancestors’ (the host, archaeologist Julian Richards, is in the red hardhat and blue jumper). The series reconstructed the face of the woman in the sarcophagus.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:13:18 +0000

I remember this dig as I worked at Spitalfields back then. The scallop shell pattern on the sarcophagus is beautiful, I’m glad it was preserved.

By: Eve

Eve — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:29:04 +0000

So far from Rome & her head ‘lay upon a pillow of bay leaves..’ – spiritually it’s believed the bay leaf can break curses, banish harmful energies & link us with ancestral guides – may she rest in peace.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:53:19 +0000

What amazing detail on those stone coffins. Every time I even went into London (when still living in the south) there was always some ‘dig’ or other that was discovered when sites were being prepared to be built upon. Good that the ‘rules’ always have to do the archeology on each site first though

By: Sheila Quinn

Sheila Quinn — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:30:00 +0000

Looks to me that the burial site of the Roman Woman is either the playground or beneath the demolished building of the Central Foundation Girls School, Spital Square!

By: Eva Radford

Eva Radford — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:26:03 +0000

I find the scallop shells on her coffin so interesting. I believe they can symbolize pilgrimage.

By: Tony Wetjen

Tony Wetjen — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:13:02 +0000

Excellent stuff on the topic of London’s East End History! Don’t forget the 19th Century German community and the Sugar Houses. Absolute Hell Holes, my Gt Grandfather Diederich worked in one before getting his first Pub’.

Tony Wetjen

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:02:40 +0000

Very interesting.