Element record MCC1361 - Roman tombstone of Longinus, Beverley Road, Colchester
Summary
Roman memorial tombstone of Longinus Sdapeze found to the west of Beverley Road found during building work in April 1928. The tombstone (along with that of Facilis MCC1352) indicate the probable existence of a military cemetery along side the main road west of Colchester (MCC1928).
The tombstone is on display in the Castle Museum.
Location
| Grid reference | TL 98588 24838 (point) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | TL92SE |
| Non Parish Area | COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The Tombstone of Longinus was found west of Beverley Road found during building work in 1928. The tombstone was discovered by workmen below 3 feet of topsoil, removed as part of the site levelling operation, on 14/04/1928. It was lying face down in several (“at least ten”) pieces.<1><2><3><4><5><6>
The site was re-excavated in 1996-1999 by Colchester Archaeology Group (ECC3895), when pieces of the tombstone were found adjacent to the location of the site of the rest of the tombstone.<7>
A geological study of the tombstone confirms that the limestone was imported from a quarry in Gloucestershire.<8>
A Roman altar was found near the site of the tombstone of Longinus in 1849 (MCC2439).
Sources/Archives (8)
- <1> SCC48 Monograph: Hull, M.R.. 1958. Roman Colchester: Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London. No. XX. p.254, plate 2 , p.293, No24.
- <2> SCC143 Serial: The Essex Society for Archaeology and History. Vol. 19 (New Series) Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society. Vol. XIX (New Series). p.117.
- <3> SCC146 Serial: Colchester Museums. 1933. Colchester Museum Reports 1925-1933. 1925-1933. 1928, p.8.
- <4> SCC244 Serial: Romish-Germanischen Kommission Des Deutschen Archaologischen Instituts. 1924. Vol. VIII Germania. Vol. VIII. p.188.
- <5> SCC246 Serial: Society of Antiquaries. 1928. Vol. VIII Antiquaries Journal. Vol. VIII. p.527.
- <6> SCC245 Serial: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. 1928. Vol. XVIII The Journal of Roman Studies. Vol. XVIII. p.212.
- <7> SCC73014 Excavation archive: Mallinson, John, Benfield, Stephen, Hardy, Denise & Matthews, Michael J.. 2012. Report on the 1928 and 1996 Longinus excavations.
- <8> SCC73013 Monograph: Hayward, K.M.J.. 2009. Roman quarrying and stone supply on the periphery - Southern England; a geological study of first century funerary monuments and monumental architecture.. BAR British Series 500.. pp.133-135.
Finds (1)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Event - Intervention: Evaluation and watching brief at 1, 1a and 2 Beverley Road, Colchester, 2003 (Ref: ECC2693) (ECC2693)
- Event - Intervention: Investigations by Colchester Archaeological Group east of Silvanus Close, Colchester, 1996-98 (Ref: ECC3895) (ECC3895)
- Event - Intervention: Tombstone of Longinus, Colchester, 1927 (Ref: ECC1267) (ECC1267)
Record last edited
Nov 15 2016 10:55AM