Roman port found at Caerleon on banks of River Usk

[Melvadius]

The BBC is carrying this report on the discovery of a major port area beside the fortress at Caerleon. The excavator's blog (including the geophysical survey of the site) can be read on the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) website here.

 

It looks like it may have been associated with the pacification of Wales when there are suggestions that the Romans made use of its navy for sea borne landings in more remote or at least harder to access areas along the Welsh coast.

 

Archaeologists say the discovery of a 2,000-year-old port sheds new light on Wales' role in the Roman Empire.

 

A team from Cardiff University discovered the harbour outside the Roman fortress at Caerleon (Isca) during ongoing excavation work.

 

The remains are said to be well preserved and include the main quay wall, landing stages and wharves.

 

Excavation leader Dr Peter Guest said the port was a "major addition to the archaeology of Roman Britain".

 

Students using geophysical equipment, which can reveal outlines of buried structures, came across the remains of a site of large Roman buildings on the banks of the River Usk last year.

 

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[DecimusCaesar]

It's amazing that this port was only discovered recently, even though excavations have been taking place at Caerleon for mnay, many years; but what a great discovery.