Brief glimpse of a unique Roman mosaic is a big draw
A ROMAN mosaic found in a Berkshire field and hailed as one of UK’S most exciting archaeological discoveries will soon be reburied, it has emerged.
Archaeologists and volunteers spent nine days uncovering the mosaic, which depicts a mythical chariot race for the hand of a princess, in the village of Boxford.
Anthony Beeson, an expert on Roman and Greek architecture and art, said it is one of just three known mosaics of its kind in the world.
Matt Nichol, an archaeologist who worked on the dig, described the mosaic’s imagery and iconography as “second to none”.
When it was first partially uncovered in 2017 it was described as the most exciting mosaic discovery in Britain for the last 50 years. The project, which had been running since 2011, had previously uncovered the remains of a large Roman villa, a bath house and a farm building.
Featuring the Greek hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus, the mosaic, which dates from around AD380, was uncovered by volunteers and resident historians working with Cotswold Archaeology and the Boxford Heritage Project.
After being fully uncovered, it was opened to the public on Saturday but is now to be carefully reburied because of its location on private farming land.
Joy Appleton, from the Boxford History Project, said “It’s absolutely beyond our expectations. We now know it’s a unique mosaic but to find it here in little old Boxford is quite something.”
‘It’s absolutely beyond our expectations. We know it’s a unique mosaic but to find it in little old Boxford is something’