Posted on 08/17/2002 10:13:48 PM PDT by LostTribe
Roman villas found under playing field By Catherine Milner, Arts Correspondent (Filed: 18/08/2002)
The remains of two Roman villas have been found under a football pitch in Wiltshire in what is believed to be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries since the early 1960s.
The houses, which were built for Roman aristocrats in about 350AD, have 40 rooms each and feature an extensive mosaic which is thought to be one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman examples ever found in Britain.
Archaeologists from Bristol and Cardiff universities, who are carrying out the excavation, have also exhumed the body of a Roman teenage boy, whose head had been cut off and placed at his feet.
The excavation, which began last week on the sports fields of St Laurence's School, Bradford-on-Avon, is expected to last for five years and will be conducted by a team of 40 academics and their assistants.
Dr Mark Corney, a lecturer at Bristol University's archaeology department, who is leading the dig, said that the villa complex was akin to the Blenheim Palace of its day.
"It is the most significant site since the discovery of a Roman palace at Fishbourne in West Sussex in the early 1960s. The condition of the mosaic is the most incredible feature. The walls of the original building and roof tiles collapsed on top of it, so it has been preserved in mint condition for more than 1,500 years," he said.
"The people who lived in these houses had a lot of money. The mosaic is very high quality, made, we think, by the top workshop of the day that was based in Cirencester."
So far only a small part of each villa has been excavated, although aerial photographs reveal that they cover an entire football pitch.
The mosaic, which measures 16ft by 30ft, covered the floor of a large hall which joined the two houses. Made up of tesserae - tiny tiles - of different coloured limestone, it features an interlocking design of squares and a vase flanked by dolphins - symbols of rebirth and good luck in the ancient world.
Fragments of some delicate glass cups imported from the Rhineland have also been dug up, while the academics are especially interested in the discovery of the remains of a teenage boy. He was buried on his front with his head, which was removed after death, placed by his feet.
"This was a late Roman burial rite," said Dr Corney. "However, the reasons behind it are far from clear. The current interpretation is that it was for people who had particular powers in life. The Romans believed that the head was the seat of the soul and so they had to chop it off to ensure that those with these special powers didn't come back to haunt those still living."
The villas are thought to have been part of an estate that stretched across about three miles and included a family cemetery. Flanking the houses are traces of formal gardens - possibly including ornamental pools - and the remains of raised structures that could have been flowerbeds.
Dr Corney said that the complex was likely to have been built on profits from the wool trade, which in the fourth century made the West of England one of the most affluent parts of the country.
"The villas also seem to have had three separate bath houses," he said, "suggesting that there were separate, though probably related, family units dwelling in the same complex. It could have been occupied by grandparents, parents and children, or two brothers and their families.
"There may have been smaller buildings further afield. In some aerial photographs you can see track marks and the networks of old fields and the remains of buildings like barns."
The decision to excavate was taken after teachers noticed how, in the summer, the football pitch became scored with yellow lines of parched grass which corresponded with the Roman walls beneath.
Ian Bolden, the school's bursar, said: "Children at the school often used to graze themselves on bits of Roman brickwork or pottery sticking out from the ground while they were playing football. The remains were remarkably close to the surface - just one foot or so below ground."
Public access to the excavation is currently limited and the mosaic has been covered with earth to protect it. English Heritage, the school and the local council are, however, in discussion about how they can open the site to the public.
Mr Bolden said: "At the moment, we are liaising with the universities and other archaelogical experts, but if there is a way to make it profitable and also for the children to benefit from learning about archaeology, too, then that is what we will try to aim for."
Roy Canham, the archaeologist for Wiltshire county council said: "This is a major find. It appears to be a much larger site than we first thought and is in superb condition."
Mr Canham added that the Cotswolds appeared to be popular among the rich Romans. "Perhaps the views reminded them of Tuscany," he said.
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One of the most deep seated local legends is that Jesus was a nephew of Joseph of Arimethia. Joseph, presumed to be a brother of Mary, did own a major shipping fleet hauling tin to Palestine. Jesus supposedly sailed with his Uncle and visited the SW of England. I have seen stained glass windows in very old churchs in the area showing Jesus and Joseph in a boat, landing there. There are also songs or "chantys" sung by miners which recall those events.
There is no Biblical support for this legend that I am aware of, but we now know there were no technical reasons it could not have occured, and there is no Biblical indication that Jesus was engaged in carpentry (or anything else) for ~20 years after the age of 12.
These legends are certainly deeply ingrained in English history. Glastonbury is a fascinating place to visit.
Sorry, I haven't been quite that far north in Norway.
You would think so. Who knows what all is buried in the Vatican Library, for instance?
The great library at Alexandria burned before Christ so would have been no help, but who knows what records it held of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Over 400,000 documents were lost. Here is one account:
It is often said that the Romans were civilised [ED: Especially BY the Romans, who wrote the history. The Christians were not asked for their opinion.] but their most famous general was responsible for the greatest act of vandalism during antiquity. Julius Caesar was attacking Alexandria in pursuit of his archrival Pompey when he found himself about to be cut off by the Egyptian fleet. Realising that this would leave him in a desperate predicament, he took decisive action and sent fire ships into the harbour. His plan was a success and the enemy fleet was quickly aflame. But the fire did not stop these and jumped onto the dockside which was laden with flammable materials ready for export. Next it spread in land and before anyone could stop it, the Great Library itself was blazing brightly as 400,000 priceless scrolls were reduced to ashes. As for Caesar himself, did not think it important enough to mention in his memoirs. The accused was indeed in Alexandria in 47 - 48 BC after arriving in pursuit of his rival Pompey.
You're right about Messalina. But beheading is very rare. If a Roman committed suicide, his/her hand was cut off for separate burial. I have never heard about beheading in association with suicide. And a beheading on a teenage boy seems very strange to me.
Yep. As in, the time was not yet right for them to be "found". (They had only been lost 700 years.)
Maybe some records from Caesarea Maritima, built by Emperor Hadrian to impress Rome, will show something. This was the biggest baddest harbor on the coast, probably second only to Rome in the Med. at the time of Jesus. Joseph of Arimethia had to have a big presence here if he was as big a shipowner and carrier for the Roman Empire as believed.
As a member of the Sanhedrin he was probably President of the local Rotary Club, which would mean he knew everyone who was anyone. That may be how he had the clout to take possession of Jesus body and give him his private tomb.
You're welcome! Have you been to the area, or interested in Olde England?
The skeletal remains of the young Roman teenager are taken to Okford for further examination. One of the professors, after examining the skull places back on the examinating table. However, he has placed it between the shoulder blades. Ought oh!
The proefessor goes into an office and begins to write in his journal and......
The title: "Strega" {Witch!}
This can be a doozy! Who want's to produce it.
This was an important area during WW2 since the Nazis needed that good Swedish iron ore from just over the Norgwegian border to keep building tanks and ships. They shipped the ore by rail from Sweden over the mountains to the nearby Norse port of Narvik. (A major reason the Nazis siezed Norway early in the war.) Narvik is still a tourist attraction today.
Trondenes was an important centre of power in the Viking and
Medieval Ages. According to the sagas, the renowned chieftain's
family on the island of Bjarkøy, and on the peninsula of Trondenes
on Hinnøy Island, sacrificed to Norse gods and held great feasts
here. They ruled over an entire kingdom in the districts of
Southern Troms and Vesterålen.
Trondenes played an important part during the Christianization of
Northern Norway. The local chieftains had to be pacified before
the kings could unify the country and bloody battles were fought.
The largest stone church north of Trondheim was erected at
Trondenes after the chieftains had lost the battle against the
unification of Norway. Trondenes Church remains the most forceful
symbol of the Christianization of Northern Norway. The church
became a bastion against Russia. Parts of the wall which were to
protect against attacks from Russians and Karelians can still be
seen.
Guess any of these guys could have left a battle axe behind!
Sounds like a winner to me. Much more has been made with much less in Hollyweird.
Sure, they could be permanent immigrants, (or undocumented aliens!) I was generalizing the on the idea that travel was not at all impossible, either then, or hundreds of years earlier. The Romans moved large quantities of troops back and forth, and the community of Bath was definitely a Roman tourist venue.
Standard procedure for vampires.
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