Archaeologists uncover sprawling Roman estate buried for centuries beneath farmland

Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a sprawling fourth-century Roman villa on farmland between Halberton and Sampford Peverell in Devon.(SHARE/SWNS)

Horner added, “This, and the other trappings of Roman civilization 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.”

Photos released by officials show the mosaic, as well as ancient pottery and other artifacts unearthed after centuries underground.

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The red, white and dark blue cubes were used to form a stylized flower with eight overlapping petals.

Alongside the villa, archaeologists excavated two additional stone buildings: one believed to have been a bathhouse and another that was likely used for agriculture.

“But from day one, it has offered us a wealth of interesting and sometimes surprising finds.”

Archaeologists also found a delicate copper-alloy bracelet, a fine silver-plated spoon and abeaker used for serving drinks, as well as a collection of pottery fragments and an engraved gemstone depicting the goddess Victory.

Britain was part of the Roman Empire from A.D.43 until the early fifth century.Experts said the colorful mosaic is the westernmost example ever found at aRoman villain Britain.

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The discoveries indicate the villa was once home to a wealthy Roman family, archaeologists said.

Project leader Susan Greaney, an archaeology professor at the University of Exeter, said her team “did not expect to find such anelaborate bathhouse.”

Officials said the colorful mosaic features red, white and dark blue cubes arranged in a stylized flower with eight overlapping petals.(SHARE/SWNS)

“At the outset, we knew this villa, and its surrounding working areas, was an important site for understanding the Romanization of Devon,” she said in a release.

“But from day one, it has offered us a wealth of interesting and sometimes surprising finds in addition to this striking polychrome mosaic.… This villa was undoubtedly home to people of wealth and high standing.”

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“This villa was undoubtedly home to people of wealth and high standing,” said the project leader, an archaeology professor at the University of Exeter.(SHARE/SWNS)

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The site first came to light in 2004, when local metal detectorist John Hill discovered Roman remains.

Officials are now working to carefully transport the mosaic to the local Tiverton Museum of Mid-Devon Life.

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The latest find is one of many remarkable Roman discoveries made across England in recent years.

A depiction of ancient Romans in England circa 77 A.D.(iStock)

Last summer, archaeologists uncovered an extensive 2,000-year-old Roman settlement in the Cotswolds after an amateurmetal detectorist’s chance discovery.

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This summer, archaeologists working ahead of aBritish railway projectunearthed a rare Roman coin and a trove of ancient artifacts.