Urban life in Roman times in England

Famous hot spring bath in Bath, England ( Photo: VNE )

Hot spring baths, out-of-town shopping and dinner seem like the activity of a wealthy urban people today. But it was also the schedule of a British citizen in the 1st century AD.

Archaeologists in the British city of Bath have identified an ancient suburb located outside the city center of Bath. Also suburban areas dating back to Roman times found outside major cities like London, the discovery recently added evidence that living in the suburbs is no longer a modern story.

Tim Robey, Project Director at Bath Archaeological Association, said that in Roman times, a wall was built around downtown Bath, including the famous hot spring bath, Sulis Minerva temple. , and maybe a big theater has not been found.

In addition to some religious leaders and officials living in the city, most people move to Walcot, the suburbs just 800 meters north of the center. Walcot actually consists of a large road like Park Avenue and side streets, all near an intersection leading to London Road to enter the city.

According to Robey, like most suburbs today, Walcot residents are also divided into several classes. " Rickety wooden tents mixed with luxury buildings, including houses made of precious stones. People who live in Walcot can include monks, bathroom staff, artists, shopkeepers, clerks. ".

Robey said that the ancient suburban people did not shop at a central market but at small shops scattered throughout the area. The discovery of a piece of hammer and rust indicates that there was a blacksmithing workshop there. Paint boxes, blue glass pieces, and enamel materials evoke a mark on a studio. Other traces show that there is a silver and pottery shop.

What is particularly interesting for British archaeologists is the discovery of the stone background of 6-7 luxurious villas, which can house the wealthy urban people. Often such villas are built away from the noisy, dusty center, but in this case, they are built right on the slopes of the valley near Walcot.

Maybe the owners of these villas couldn't resist the attraction of Bath City. " Bath has the only hot spring in England, and the city has been known throughout the Western empire during the Roman period ," Robey said.

Robey and the archaeological team hope to research more of these villas to understand the life of suburban Bath residents of Rome.

MT