The Roman crossing of the Wye at Chepstow

Project summary

This project will investigate the remains of a possible Roman bridge across the River Wye at Chepstow, building on the discovery of first-century AD timber bridge structures and associated Roman roads on both riverbanks. Using advanced marine survey techniques, including bathymetric mapping, LiDAR and sub-bottom geophysical survey, the research will search for additional bridge piers, buried structures and evidence of other early river crossings to reconstruct the bridge’s design, extent and development through time.

The project will provide new evidence for Roman infrastructure and the conquest of South Wales, addressing fundamental questions about transport, settlement and landscape use along the River Wye. By combining heritage science with community archaeology, it will support future conservation and research, establish new approaches for investigating challenging tidal environments, and enhance public understanding of one of Britain’s most significant potential Roman river crossings through education, outreach and academic publication.