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THE DATING OF BUILDING 2, INSULA XXVII, AT VERULAMIUM: A REASSESSMENT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2015

Stephen Cosh  and
David Neal
Stephen Cosh
Affiliation:
Stephen Cosh, FSA, 38 Oaklea, Ash Vale, Aldershot GU12 5HP, UK. Email: stephencosh675@btinternet.com
David Neal
Affiliation:
David Neal, FSA, Tylers, Little Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9NP, UK. Email: davidsneal@waitrose.com
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Abstract

Building 2, insula xxvii, at Verulamium is a large townhouse of three wings fronted by a corridor (porticus), facing the north side of the forum. Sheppard Frere, who excavated it between 1956 and 1960, concluded that it was constructed around ad 380, and was replaced during the fifth century by a large buttressed building, which in turn was cut by a water-pipe trench. This paper offers a reinterpretation of this site, suggesting a construction date in the late second rather than the fourth century.

Résumé

Le bâtiment 2, insula xxvii, Verulamium est un grand hôtel particulier composé de trois ailes, longé en façade par un couloir (porticus) et situé face au côté nord du forum. Sheppard Frere, qui mena des fouilles à cet endroit de 1956 à 1960, conclut qu’il avait été construit vers 380 après J.-C. et remplacé au ve siècle par un grand bâtiment à contreforts, traversé à son tour par une tranchée d’adduction d’eau. Le présent exposé propose une réinterprétation de ce site, suggérant que sa construction eut lieu à la fin du iie siècle plutôt qu’au ive siècle.

Zusammenfassung

Bauwerk 2, insula xxvii, in Verulamium ist ein großes Stadthaus mit drei Flügel und vorne einem Säulengang (Portikus), der zur Nordseite des Forums hinausgeht. Sheppard Frere, der die Ausgrabungen zwischen 1956 und 1960 durchführte, kam zu dem Schluss, dass das Bauwerk um das Jahr 380 errichtet und dann im 5. Jahrhundert durch ein großes Gebäude mit Strebepfeilern ersetzt wurde, das wiederum von einem Wasserrohrgraben durchzogen wurde. Diese Abhandlung bringt eine Neuinterpretation zu dieser Anlage und legt ein Baudatum im ausgehenden zweiten anstelle des vierten Jahrhunderts nahe.

Type
Papers
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 95 , September 2015 , pp. 65 - 90
Copyright
© The Society of Antiquaries of London 2015 

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