America

Rare Roman mosaic found on farm in ‘remarkable’ find

November 25, 2021
Henry Club

written by Sarah Sperry, CNN

Rare roman mosaic In a “remarkable” search, a British farm has been discovered.

Historic England, a public body that looks after the country’s historic environment, said this is the first time the mosaic – found in Rutland, East Midlands – has been uncovered in 1,600 years.

The Roman mosaic is the first of its kind to depict the battle of the Greek hero Achilles with Hector during the Trojan War in Britain, and is part of a “handful” of examples found in Europe, Historic England reported in a press release. Said Thursday.

The landowner’s son Jim Irwin noticed “unusual pottery” in a wheat field during England’s coronavirus lockdown last year and alerted the local authority.

archaeologist From the University of Leicester Archaeological Services, along with Historic England and Rutland County Council, excavated the site and discovered the mosaic, which measures 11 m by 7 m (36 ft by 30 ft).

Archaeologists make notes during the excavation of the mosaic. Credit: Historic England Archive

The artwork is thought to be a dining or entertaining area in a large villa. The building was occupied in the late Roman period, between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

Historic England stated that the complex, now granted protected status, was probably owned by a wealthy man with knowledge of classical literature.

“It is remarkable to uncover such a rare mosaic of this size as well as the surrounding villas,” Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said in the press release.

“Discoveries like these are very important in helping us piece together our shared history. By protecting this site we are able to continue to learn from it, and look forward to seeing what future excavations give us about the people who lived there.” What can I teach?”

The Roman villa is surrounded by other buildings from the period uncovered during a geophysical survey.

These include barns, possible bath houses and several border ditches.

The room is part of a larger villa, the scale of which is occupied here, believed to date to between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

The room is part of a larger villa, the scale of which is occupied here, believed to date to between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Credit: Historic England Archive

Human remains from the very late Roman or early medieval period were also found at the site, and later than the mosaics were interred at the site.

Historic England states that the bodies were withheld when the building was not occupied, and the mosaics show damage from the fire that the premises were reused.

Britain has a rich Roman historical past.

Last month, archaeologists in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, south east England, discovered a set of “Incredible” and Rare Roman Statues Of a man, woman and a child. Also discovered was a hexagonal glass Roman jug, which is believed to be over 1,000 years old.
a different archaeological dig In April, the remains of a complex of “high-status” Roman buildings were uncovered during construction work on a new housing development in Scarborough, northern England.

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