Archaeologists and community volunteers have discovered the remains of a Roman royal villa in the Chalke Valley, Wiltshire, England, the first such discovery in the region.
The discovery began when a local metal detectorist reported Roman artefacts to Salisbury Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. Their discoveries led to a two-week excavation in October, led by Teffont Archaeology, in partnership with Cardiff University, and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund through the Chase and Chalke Landscape Partnership Scheme. .
The centerpiece of the site is a Roman villa, over 35 meters long, surrounded by additional structures, including a large bathhouse, a high-rise barn, and a concrete-floored building that may be used as an outdoor pool. . Probably the center of a vast agricultural estate, the villa was decorated with high-quality mosaics featuring intricate geometric patterns, painted wall stucco and columns. These elements emphasize the richness of the villa’s inhabitants.
Dr David Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Roman Archeology at Cardiff University and co-director of the project, said: . The site was probably the center of an important estate in the late Roman period, and its owners must have extracted large amounts of labor and surplus from the local farming community to finance their lavish lifestyles. ”
Another co-lead, Dr. Dennis Wilding of Tefont Archeology, said: “The high-status items excavated from this site, especially the stuccoed walls and furniture such as columns, are evidence of the people who lived here.” “It’s a testament to wealth and power.” These artifacts are particularly important due to the lack of recent excavations of high-status sites in this region. We are very grateful to the landowner for allowing us to excavate his land. ”
More than 60 volunteers took part in the excavation, providing a first-hand experience of the connection between archeology and local heritage. The archaeological team will now focus on analyzing excavated artifacts and site data, and plans to hold on-site dialogues next year to share their findings.
