Just 20 miles from the Roman city of Bath, archaeologists have discovered coins, brooches, animal bones, under floor heating pipes and hundreds of oyster shells which suggests a wealthy family lived in the villa, thought to have been three stories high between 175 and 220 AD.
You can check out what's nearby the Tisbury villa on the Roman Rural Settlement map
— Lisa Lodwick (@LisaLodwick) April 17, 2016
https://t.co/A8hYFCe5wl pic.twitter.com/NIcSWVp7lH
Dr David Roberts, Historic England archaeologist said it was an extremely significant find.
"The discovery of such an elaborate and extraordinary well-preserved villa, undamaged by agriculture for over 1,500 years, is unparalleled in recent years" Dr Roberts said.
"This site has not been touched since its collapse 1,400 years ago and, as such, is of enormous importance. Without question, this is a hugely valuable site in terms of research, with incredible potential…"
Great to work with @SalisburyMuseum on the excavation of "elaborate" Roman villa https://t.co/zUQDYuTg0P pic.twitter.com/r5dlW9LXr5
— Historic England (@HistoricEngland) April 17, 2016
"It's one of the best sites I have ever had the chance to work on."
Reports in local newspaper, Western Daily Express say the owner of the house in Tisbury unearthed a Roman mosaic while laying cables in an old barn.
"I was overwhelmed by the realization that someone's lived on this site for 2,000 years," owner Luke Irwin said.
Archaeologists believe the Roman villa once belonged to a wealthy family living in relative luxury and could be one of the largest villas discovered in England.
