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 sitting beneath Devon farmland.

Consisting of thousands of red, white and dark blue/grey cubes, the 12m2 mosaic would have been a striking decorative floor feature of the villa when it was likely installed sometime in the fourth century A.D.

Away from the main villa, an elaborate bathhouse with at least two plunge pools and painted plaster walls has also been uncovered, along with Roman artefacts including a beautiful intaglio depicting the goddess, Victory.

The combination of these items suggests the villa was occupied by people of wealth and status, living a very ‘Roman’ lifestyle. Such opulence is rare in this part of the south-west in the Roman period, with only a handful of villas known.

The discoveries have been revealed following a two-month dig on farmland between the villages of Halberton and Sampford Peverell, led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter and Cotswold Archaeology.

Funded by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the SHARE (Saving Halberton’s Ancient Roman Environment) project has attracted scores of community volunteers as well as archaeology students from the University. It is a partnership with Devon County Council, Tiverton Archaeology Group, and the Sampford Peverell Society.

“At the outset, we knew this villa, and its surrounding working areas, was an important site for understanding the ‘Romanisation’ of Devon,” says project lead Dr Susan Greaney, of the University of Exeter’s Department of Archaeology and History. “But from day one, it has offered us a wealth of interesting and sometimes surprising finds in addition to this striking polychrome mosaic. We did not expect to find such an elaborate bathhouse, for example. This villa was undoubtedly home to people of wealth and high standing.”

The mosaic is believed to have covered the floor of one of the villa’s rooms, potentially a dining or reception room, and consists of tiny (12mm) square stone cubes. At its heart, the tesserae form a roundel with a stylised flower with eight overlapping teardrop-shaped petals. Interlaced squares and a common Roman pattern of a pair of knotted lines surround it, with larger, coarser off-white limestone mosaics around the perimeter to cater for higher traffic areas.

Having fully uncovered the mosaic, specialists are now carefully lifting it so that it can be conserved, and later put on display at Tiverton Museum of Mid-Devon Life, along with the other artefacts recovered.

Bill Horner, County Archaeologist & Historic Environment Manager at Devon County Council said: “The polychrome mosaic is the most westerly example to have been found in a villa in Roman Britain. This, and the other trappings of Roman civilisation and evidence of affluence that have been found, show how much even this far-flung part of the province had been integrated into the Roman Empire.”

Among the items found on the site are an intaglio, a blue glass ornament that would originally have been set within a ring and used to seal wax documents. A delicate copper alloy bangle was found sitting on top of the mosaic, and a fine silver-plated spoon was unearthed in one of the villa rooms. There were numerous pieces of pottery, including an indented beaker used for serving drinks; a piece of Samian ware mortarium with a lion’s spout, located near the bathhouse; and an enormous storage jar. The team also found a natural piece of flint that was most likely used as a mixing palette or mortar for paint or cosmetics.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “These exciting discoveries are transforming our understanding of Devon’s Roman past. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project is uncovering nationally significant heritage while giving local communities and young people the chance to play a part in its discovery and learn new skills along the way. This once-in-a-lifetime archaeological journey is helping to protect and share these amazing stories for generations to come.”

Scores of community enthusiasts have taken part in the excavation of two large trenches, working alongside 65 archaeology students and professional project members. Together, their efforts have revealed the layout of the villa is bigger than first thought, leading archaeologists to consider that it might have been extended several times from its original, modest rectangular dimensions. Additional rooms were added to the north and south ends, and walls and a rainwater gulley have been found to the rear, suggesting it was a practical area for storage or kitchens. Hints of a timber staircase suggest part of the villa may have been two storeys.

Two further buildings have been excavated, both stone-built: One contains at least two large water tanks that archaeologists believe were a plunge bath – these are constructed of opus signinum (a form of waterproof Roman concrete); the other is a large rectangular building that may have been a barn or used for agriculture, given the quantities of animal bone and worked antler found in the area.

This year’s dig is the first of three annual visits to the site, with future excavations set to concentrate on the wider estate on neighbouring land.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Biodiversity, said: “This has been a once-in-a-lifetime chance for local people to get involved in a groundbreaking excavation of a Roman villa.

“Opportunities like this are incredibly rare, and what makes this project even more special is that the public has been part of the story from the start — from the first discoveries through to the work that has helped confirm the importance of the site. Thanks to National Lottery players, local volunteers, schools and community groups have helped uncover and will protect an extraordinary piece of Devon’s Roman past.”

Dan Sausins, the Project Officer leading Cotswold Archaeology’s team, said: “This excavation is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when professional archaeologists, community volunteers, university staff and students work together. The mosaic is naturally the standout discovery, but the metal artefacts recovered have also been outstanding and are a great advert for responsible metal-detecting, with detectorist John Hill – who originally identified this site – a key part of the success. It’s been a real pleasure to lead this excavation and share the area’s history with the local community, and I’ve been delighted by the interest and hard work of all involved.”