Archaeologists working on farmland between the villages of Halberton and Samford Peverill in Devon have unearthed a stunning mosaic floor from a 4th-century Roman villa, along with an elaborate bathhouse that suggests the site once belonged to a family of great wealth.
The discovery is the latest achievement from the Save the Ancient Roman Environment Project at Halliburton, known as SHARE, a joint effort between the University of Exeter and Cotswold Archaeology. Roman villas remain extremely rare finds in Devon, with only a small number confirmed through excavation, making this particular site an important addition to the understanding of how deep Roman influence was in south-west Britain by this period.
How the site in Devon was first discovered
The story behind this excavation goes back more than two decades. According to Devon County Council, the site was first reported in 2004 by local metal detectorist John Hill, whose early discoveries prompted a geophysical survey that later confirmed the likely presence of enclosures and buried structures. Community volunteers then conducted field walks and small-scale excavations that uncovered tiles, mosaic fragments and roof panels, laying the foundation for the larger excavation that followed.
Further investigations by a PhD student at the University of Exeter eventually confirmed the presence of the mosaics at the site, paving the way for the current excavation phase.
What makes this mosaic so important?
The centerpiece of the discovery is a multi-coloured mosaic built from thousands of tiny stone cubes measuring just twelve millimeters square, arranged in colors of red, white, blue and dark grey. At its heart is a stylized flower design of eight overlapping teardrop-shaped petals, bordered by an interlocking pattern of interlaced squares known as guilloche, a design popular in Roman floors throughout the Empire.
According to Exeter University News, the mosaic is believed to date back to the 4th century AD and represents the most Westernized example of this decorative style ever recorded in a Roman villa in Britain, a distinction that places the Devon countryside firmly within the reach of Roman urban and domestic culture.
Unexpected bathroom and other rich discoveries
Outside the main dwelling, archaeologists discovered a large bath containing at least two plunge pools built using opus signinum, a waterproof form of Roman concrete, with walls still bearing traces of painted plaster.
Dr Susan Greaney, project leader from the University of Exeter’s Department of Archeology and History, said the team did not expect to find a bath of this size, adding that the villa was undoubtedly home to people of wealth and high status.
Other notable finds found during the excavation include a delicate copper alloy bracelet placed atop the mosaic, a finely crafted silver-plated spoon, and the intaglio, a small carved jewel originally set in a ring and used to press seals into wax, and decorated with an image of the goddess Victory.
Community participation is at the heart of the project
The excavation relied heavily on local participation, with dozens of community volunteers working alongside approximately sixty-five archeology students and professional project staff throughout the excavation. The SHARE project is supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and brings together the University of Exeter, Cotswold Archaeology, Devon County Council, the Tiverton Archaeological Collection and the Samford Peverill Society.
Devon county archaeologist Bill Horner said mosaics and other signs of Roman wealth found at the site show how absorbed this remote corner of the county was in Roman life.
What happens to the mosaic next?
With the excavations completed at this stage, conservation specialists are carefully lifting the mosaic in sections so that it can be preserved and eventually put on public display at Tiverton Museum in Mid Devon Live, alongside other Roman artefacts recovered from the site. Councilor Jackie Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Biodiversity at Devon County Council, described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local people to take part in a truly important excavation, noting that public engagement has shaped the project from its early stages through to the conservation work now underway.