Archaeologists in London unveiled one of the most extensive collections of Roman frescoes ever found in the British capital, bringing to light artworks hidden for over 1,800 years. The team painstakingly reassembled thousands of plaster fragments, revealing magnificent decorations that once adorned a luxurious Roman villa in Southwark. According to BBC News, the discovery demonstrates the artistic sophistication and opulence of ancient Londinium.
An archaeological endeavor led by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) brought these frescoes back to life. "This is one of the biggest—if not the biggest—assemblages of Roman wall plaster and paintings we've ever found in Roman London," said Han Li, MOLA's senior building material specialist, according to BBC News.
The villa, dating back to the 1st or 2nd century CE, was built shortly after the Romans founded London in 43 CE during a period of rapid development in the new city. Experts believe the grand building may have been home to a wealthy family or served as an inn for affluent travelers, reflecting the wealth of the area. The site was described by the MOLA team as the "Beverly Hills of Roman London," emphasizing its status as a rapidly developing wealthy suburb in the early Roman period.
The reconstruction revealed intricate wall paintings depicting musical instruments, birds, flowers, and finely painted details such as candelabras and lyres. These designs were intended to reflect the status and excellent taste of the building's owners. Among the more than 120 boxes of painted plaster, archaeologists uncovered what appears to be the first known example of a painter's signature in Roman Britain. The Latin word "fecit," meaning "he/she made this," was identified on one fragment, providing a tangible link to one of the artists behind the fresco.
Han Li explained the challenges faced during the reconstruction process. "You have to be very careful because you can only assemble the pieces a small number of times before the plaster starts to be damaged and it flakes off," Li said, according to BBC News. "So, you have to be quite sure before you join the pieces that this is the piece that may fit." The task was complicated by the fragility of the ancient pieces, many of which threatened to crumble to dust. Pieces from different walls had been mixed together during the building's demolition, making the reconstruction akin to assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.
The fragments were discovered in 2021 at the Liberty development site in Southwark, a 220,000-square-foot area that will eventually be home to houses, restaurants, retail, and offices. The site has yielded other finds, including intricate mosaics and a rare Roman mausoleum, contributing to the understanding of London's Roman history.
The frescoes revealed two features not previously identified in Britain: an inscription in the Greek alphabet and a fragment containing traces of the artist's signature. The team is still hoping to find the missing piece that would reveal the name of the artist. "There is evidence about who the artists were, but their exact identities will remain a mystery until the missing piece bearing their names is found," Li said.
The artistic influences evident in the frescoes extend beyond Britain, drawing inspiration from wall decorations found in other parts of the Roman Empire, particularly from Lyon in France and Cologne in Germany. Scientists are comparing the frescoes with others found throughout Britain and Europe to see if the same artists may have worked elsewhere. "Because of the sheer large assemblage and the completeness of our wall plaster, we can now do a lot more internationally and collaboratively," Li stated.
The area where the villa was found was characterized by Andrew Henderson-Scharf from MOLA as a vibrant and affluent district in the early stages of the Roman period. "This lively fashionable district appeared under the Romans quite early. In a sense, it was actually a suburb for the richest—like Beverly Hills of Roman London," Henderson-Scharf said.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.