In what seems to be one of the biggest collections of painted plaster ever discovered in the city, archaeologists at the Liberty development site in Southwark, close to London Bridge, have discovered an amazing array of Roman frescoes that are thought to have been created between AD 43 and 150.
Shattered into a Jigsaw Puzzle
The frescoes were smashed and dumped into a deep pit before AD 200, preserved under debris until excavated during construction. Archaeologists spent months painstakingly reassembling thousands of fragments, likening the process to the world’s “most difficult jigsaw puzzle”.
How the Frescoes Show
Up to 20 inside walls were embellished with intricate floral themes, birds, fruit, and musical lyre designs, suggesting a lavishly furnished Roman structure.
The building’s privileged position is highlighted by the discovery of rare yellow panels, which were a luxury in Roman Britain, as well as imitations of African marble and Egyptian porphyry (washingtonpost.com).
Graffiti in ancient Greek letters was also discovered, which is unusual for London during the Roman era, and a fragment with the word “FECIT” that may have been a piece of the artist’s signature.
Southwark: Londinium’s “Beverly Hills”
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The sophistication and scale suggest this was a luxury villa or official lodging, earning Southwark comparisons to the “Beverly Hills of Roman London”.
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The find redefines our understanding of Roman-era London, indicating high-quality suburban residences outside the main city archaeology
