SEVERN UNIT STUDIES COASTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Severn Unit members spent a fascinating evening when their Unit Treasurer and amateur archaeologist Gordon McDonald came to talk to them on the subject of Coastal Archaeology around the River Severn.  During the evening they learned about how metal detecting has found an array of coins dating back to Roman times along the riverbank of the Severn Estuary at Awre just south of Newnham on Severn.  It is strongly believed that these coins were dropped by Roman mariners  going ashore from their merchant ships, perhaps to visit the local alehouse.   It is likely that the promontory there was amongst those suitable places commonly used as an anchorage on the way up the river.  The boats utilised the high spring tides to get as far up the river as they could before they had to drop anchor to wait for the next high tide to continue their journey.

Head of Unit Nic Price said “It was a most interesting evening and we were very grateful to Gordon for bringing along his lovely model of a  200 AD Roman merchant ship and telling us all about this local maritime history.”

Picture shows:  Gordon McDonald (centre) with charts of the Severn Estuary and his model of the Roman merchant ship circa 200 AD.