City Beneath the City: Leicester Dig Stuns Even Seasoned Archaeologists

Leicester Market Excavations Surprise Experts

The burial was not the only discovery under the market. Archaeologists also uncovered sections of the city’s former structures: corridors, outbuildings, and spots where ceramics, coins, and pieces of jewellery were found. These are the footprints of ordinary life from nearly two millennia ago.

For years, many believed Leicester’s history was thoroughly catalogued and that “nothing here could surprise us anymore.” Yet, the very heart of the city—its nucleus—has proven to be the least explored area. Now, a major twist has emerged right here: a mysterious discovery that raises many questions about the city’s origins and past.

Traces of Life from the Roman Conquest

“The market square refurbishment gave us a rare opportunity to investigate what lies beneath this important area. We anticipated finding Roman evidence, as the market is located in what would have been the southeastern corner of Roman Leicester, but the discoveries exceeded our expectations,” said Dr. Gavin Speed, who led the Leicester excavations, quoted on the official Leicester City Council portal.

Leicester: An Ancient City Full of Secrets

Leicester, a city in the Midlands, traces its history back to around 40 AD. It predates the Roman invasion, with numerous studies confirming the presence of a Celtic settlement. Initially, the city served as a military garrison. Eventually, it developed into a settlement and, over centuries, into a major city with a rich history.

Despite its large, modern appearance, Leicester still holds many secrets. Mysteries that are only now being brought to light.

The Leicester Dig Unveiled a City Beneath the City

During the market research, the ULAS team also uncovered the remains of a structure that 16th-century sources describe as the “most loathsome prison” in the city.

In practice, this was a complex of dungeons with no access to daylight, connected to the so-called Gainsborough Chamber—a space where council meetings and court proceedings were held for hundreds of years. This section of the market was repeatedly redeveloped in the 19th and 20th centuries, causing some original documentation to vanish.

Various elements of mosaic and pottery were found there, alongside coins and jewellery. Nevertheless, something else was even more intriguing.

The 1,900-Year-Old Infant’s Grave

Archaeologists also came across a newborn’s grave, dated to about 1,900 years ago. In Roman Britain, such child burials were more common than we might assume today—infants were often interred beneath the floors of domestic or farm buildings, rather than in formal cemeteries.

This discovery confirms that real family life, not just administrative or production facilities, was taking place here. Significantly, a later Roman stone building was constructed directly over this burial, so the trace of the child was covered and virtually undiscoverable until these Leicester excavations.

“Associated with this later phase, we discovered Roman tesserae—the small stone cubes used in mosaics—as well as pottery, coins, and jewellery items. These finds help us piece together a picture of daily life and the economy of Roman Leicester,” said the chief archaeologist from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS).

What Did the Underground City Conceal?

The finds included:

• Pottery kilns—rare specimens not often encountered.
• A stone well.
• An entire medieval marketplace.

And this is just the beginning of the large-scale research effort.

Underground Archaeological Discoveries Change History

Archaeologists state plainly that they have yet to reach the deepest layers and do not yet know exactly what lies beneath these corridors. If one “city beneath the city” survived in the centre of Leicester, how many layers of this part of England’s history remain hidden—just a few metres down?

This matters to us all. It shows that the cities we live in today have layers of history below them that we know nothing about. Crucially, the study of the past doesn’t end in museums—because new chapters can be uncovered right beneath the ordinary marketplace walked by people every day. If such things are still being found in the heart of Leicester, the question is: how many similar sites are hidden beneath other cities across Europe?

Unearthing England’s Past Secrets

England hides many extraordinary archaeological and paleontological finds that allow us to better understand the region’s history—from the age of the dinosaurs to the Roman era.

What Discovery in Oxfordshire Was Considered Exceptional?

Around 200 dinosaur footprints from 166 million years ago were discovered in a quarry, belonging to five species, including the Megalosaurus.

What Was Found in the Medway Valley?

Over 800 prehistoric stone tools were unearthed, including hand-axes up to 30 cm long, used for processing meat and hide.

Why Is Sutton Hoo So Important for Archaeology?

It is a royal Anglo-Saxon burial from the 7th century containing a ship and rich treasures, revealing the culture and power of early medieval England.

Read this article in Polish: Miasto pod miastem. Odkrycie w Anglii zaskoczyło nawet archeologów