Archaeology at Heathrow T5

A lead font is submerged in a waterhole

During the fourth century AD, the Roman Empire adopted Christianity as the official religion and Britain was no exception. However when Britain ceased to be part of the empire, in 410 AD, British Christian society underwent drastic change. The image above is a reconstruction of an event that illustrates these turbulent times. It shows the burial of part of a large lead Christian baptismal font in a pit. It was perhaps placed there in an attempt to destroy what was a powerful Christian symbol at a time when society was reverting to paganism.