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Trade and transport: crafty links
Line and wash illustration. A blank disc of metal is placed on a form resting on a large block of wood. One man sits to the left holding a second form to shape the top side of the coin. On the right a second man stands and prepares to strike the top form with a hammer. Magnifing glass image

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Coin minter at work, artist's reconstruction (Derek Lucas)

To keep Britain under control and well-supplied the Romans needed to be able to travel about. The army was quick to build a network of roads that led to and from the capital, Londinium. Some modern roads still follow the same routes today.

 
Photograph of 43 gold coins heaped together Magnifing glass image

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This hoard of gold coins from Fenchurch Street is equal to four years salary for a soldier

What about the Thames?

The river made Londinium a good place for trade. It linked Britain to the rest of the empire. The river was higher than it is today, so ships could come all the way into Londinium from the sea.

 
Line and wash illustration. In the foreground a man sits shaping a shoe on a last. By his feet a child is making decorative patterns on a leather section. In the background a man and woman stand at a table cutting shoe patterns out of leather. Magnifing glass image

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Leather workers making shoes, artist's reconstruction (Derek Lucas)

What did the ships bring?

Merchants imported goods into Londinium from the rest of Britain and all over the Roman Empire. They brought wine from Germany, pottery from France, bronze lamps from Italy and fish sauce and olive oil from France and Spain. In exchange they exported lead, tin, wool, corn and slaves.

 
Photograph of a brooch in the shape of a running whippet or greyhound. The body is inlaid in blue-green. Magnifing glass image

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Inlaid bronze brooch

Did people make things here?

As time went on local craftspeople could reproduce many of the goods brought in from abroad. Archaeologists have found evidence of many different crafts in Londinium. Workers in wood, metal, leather and pottery all lived here.

What can finds tell us?
download the movie
link to movie
 
Photograph of two walls of massive timbers interlocking to make a right-angled corner. An archaeologist crouches in the foreground at the foot of the wall measuring it.

Discovering trade and transport

Colour photograph of a row of small plates over lapping like fish scales and held together with loops of wire. Extra rows of plates have been added below in grey.

Evidence of trade and transport

Photograph of a masonry wall with a parallel ditch in front. One archaeologist sits to the right with a clipboard, the other stands behind the wall

Archaeology in action

Photograph of a wide-bodied jar with a pointed base. The neck is narrow and has a looped handle on either side. This one was found in pieces and has been carefully reconstructed.

Discovering trade and transport

Black and white close-up photograph of a stone wall with 2 stripes of thin bricks running through

Play Londinium!
A game to play on your own or as a class

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