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Archaeologists solve 125-year-old mystery about origins of Oxford

The discovery of the original eastern defensive line of late-Saxon Oxford at Oriel College confirms a hypothesis that had gone unresolved since the Victorian period, when excavations outside the Bodleian Library revealed a section of wall thought to be the original town’s north-eastern corner.

The whereabouts of the defences gives credibility to theories that the early fortified Oxford was significantly smaller than the later medieval town and had a square perimeter — built by the Anglo-Saxons according to the model of walled Roman towns such as Winchester.

Ben Ford, Senior Project Manager at Oxford Archaeology, said:

“The discovery at Oriel College is extremely exciting as it provides the first evidence since 1899 for the line of the original defensive circuit on the east side of Oxford.

“Using specialist equipment to extract cores of earth from deep below the existing ground level we have identified the profile of a large infilled ditch which is over three metres deep and about 20 metres wide running north to south.

“There is no sign of these defences now because over time the ditch had filled up with deposits and then been built over. Scientific dates from fragments of charred plants in the ditch show that it was probably constructed during the late-Saxon period, around 880 to 950 AD, which exactly aligns with the time Oxford is thought to have been founded.

“We hope that further study will obtain a more accurate date and solve this fundamental question about the origins of our modern city.”

Oxford City Council Archaeologist David Radford said:

“This really is a significant breakthrough that helps us get to the next level in terms of understanding Oxford’s emergence and evolution on the boundary between the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia in the context of the Viking threat from the north in the 9th and 10th centuries.”

Colin Bailey, Oriel College’s Master of Works, said:

“The ongoing project to rebuild the college’s kitchens and refurbish our bar provided a rare opportunity to excavate an area that has never been excavated before. It is fantastic to see this resolve a century-old debate.

“The City of Oxford has such an intriguing history. I find it extraordinary that, despite nearly 700 years of continuous existence at the same site, Oriel College continues to surprise us with new discoveries about the ground on which it is built.”

Portico leading to the Hall of Oriel College, Oxford
Excavations outside the Bodleian Library, 1899, looking east. Courtesy of Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society
Excavations outside the Bodleian Library, 1899, looking north. Courtesy of Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society

Press Contact

For media enquiries or visual asserts please contact:

Jared Smith — Communications Officer, Oriel College

e: communications@oriel.ox.ac.uk

t: 01865 286541

Additional contact

Maria Bellissimo — Communications Manager, Oxford Archaeology

e: maria.bellissimo@oxfordarchaeology.com

m: 07928 680637

Notes to editors

About Oriel College

Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford delivering world-class teaching and research. In the past century alone, it has produced two Nobel Laureates, at least eight Olympic medallists and numerous luminaries in culture and the arts.

Currently, Oriel College has c.350 undergraduates, c.270 postgraduate students and c.45 fellows. In recent years it has become a centre for environmental science and energy demand research, as well as the science of longevity and aging. In 2026 it is celebrating 700 years since its foundation in 1326.

About Oxford Archaeology

Oxford Archaeology (OA) is one of the largest independent archaeological and heritage practices in Europe, with over 400 specialist staff working out of offices in Oxford, Lancaster and Cambridge.

Founded in 1973, Oxford Archaeology is a charitable company committed to delivering high quality archaeological investigation and research outputs for our commercial partners and the communities in which we operate.

Through our work we connect people in the present with the past, create a more equal, inclusive and sustainable future through placemaking, and help our clients establish positive collaborations with local communities. We share the knowledge we create with the academic community and the wider public to advance the understanding of the past and shape the solutions to the challenges of today.

For further information, visit our website https://www.oxfordarchaeology.com/.