Unique 2,000-year-old Roman theatre discovered in back garden of archaeological school (photos)

12:04 • 26.12.12
Culture

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Bronze Age Roman theatre - dating back 2,000 years.


Dr Paul Wilkinson, founder of the Kent Archaeological Field School, believes it is the first of its kind to be found in Britain.
The theatre with a nearly circular cockpit-style orchestra, which would have seated 12,000 people. It was found in Faversham, Kent - just behind Dr Wilkinson's back garden where his field school is based, The Daily Mail reports.


The site shows activity dating back to the Bronze Age, but it is the Roman theatre - which would have been used for religious occasions - that has really excited history buffs.

 

Dr Wilkinson is fighting to preserve the unique find for future generations and has applied for it to become an ancient monument site.


He said: 'It really is an amazing find, the first one in Britain, and it is just beyond my garden. This is a unique and wonderful discovery, not only for Faversham but for all of Britain. 'The theatre could have held 12,000 people and we are going to request for it to become an ancient monument site because it is so important and we can preserve it for future generations. 'It would have been a religious sanctuary for the Romans. They would have held religious festivals there. It is called a cockpit theatre.
'There are 150 of them in northern Europe, but none in Britain until now. We were not expecting it.'


Investigations began on the land back in 2007, but the results have only just been released. A cockpit theatre had a large nearly circular orchestra with a narrow stage set much further back than in traditional theatres.

 

Dr Wilkinson believes the site is the only known example in Britain of a Roman rural religious sanctuary, with a theatre actually built into the hillside. Two temple enclosures were found near by as well as a sacred spring.

 

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