Archaeologists Find Rare Mosaic Floor Within 4th-Century Roman Villa
Archaeologists say the 12 m2 mosaic and bath house suggest the villa belonged to wealthy Romans and will be conserved for museum display.
- Archaeologists from the University of Exeter and Cotswold Archaeology have uncovered a 4th-century Roman villa on farmland between Halberton and Sampford Peverell, Devon, featuring a rare 12m² polychrome mosaic and elaborate bathhouse.
- Metal detectorist John Hill first flagged the site in 2004, prompting the Saving Halberton's Ancient Roman Environment project to launch and reveal evidence the villa belonged to people of wealth and status.
- Working alongside 65 archaeology students and community volunteers, experts revealed the mosaic's stylized flower pattern made of 12mm stone cubes; specialists now lift it for display at the Tiverton Museum of Mid-Devon Life.
- County Archaeologist Bill Horner noted the mosaic is the "westernmost example" found in a villa in Roman Britain, demonstrating how this far-flung province was integrated into the Roman Empire.
- This two-month dig marks the first of three annual visits to the site, with Dr. Susan Greaney of the University of Exeter stating future excavations will concentrate on the neighboring wider estate.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Archaeologists reveal full extent of Roman villa with remarkable mosaic
A remarkable fourth-century Roman villa has been unearthed beneath farmland in Devon, complete with what experts have confirmed is the most westerly polychrome mosaic ever discovered in a Roman villa in Britain.The find, revealed today following a two-month excavation on land situated between the villages of Halberton and Sampford Peverell, has astonished archaeologists with its scale and sophistication.Bill Horner, County Archaeologist and Hist…
Archaeological dig reveals full extent of Roman villa with intricate mosaic and bath house
Archaeologists have uncovered a rare and intricate polychrome mosaic within the remains of a Roman villa beneath Devon farmland. Made up of thousands of red, white and dark blue-gray cubes, the 12 m2 (129 square feet) mosaic would have been a striking decorative floor feature in the villa when it was likely installed sometime in the 4th century A.D.
Incredible find: Archaeologists find luxurious Roman villa in England. Mosaics and bathhouses prove prosperity in ancient Devon. Read details now.
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