An Excavation in the Western Cementery of Romand London: Atlantic House, City of London

This report on the excavations at Atlantic House, London, describes and illustrates important new evidence of Roman London's western cemetery. The cemetery was established in the late 1st century AD, following land reclamation along the River Fleet, and abandoned in the 4th century. A total of 19 inhumation burials and 29 cremations were identified at the site, with the majority dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Two timber coffins were rare survivals, and these were lifted and removed for conservation and display at the Museum of London. A rectangular pit lined with timber stakes may originally have been a water-filled feature of ritual significance. The osteological study indicates that the cemetery population was generally healthy, enjoying a balanced diet and suffering few serious diseases. This report provides a significant new contribution to our knowledge of Roman London's cemeteries, and augments recent studies of cemeteries to the east and south of the settlement.