A stunning Roman mosaic featuring colourful flowers and geometric patterns has been discovered near the Shard, archaeologists have revealed.
The mosaic, which is the largest of its kind found in London for more than 50 years, was once the floor of a Roman dining room, according to the experts.
The dining room might have been part of a Roman ‘mansio’ – an upmarket ‘motel’ offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London.
It was likely located on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, an area centred on the north bank of the Thames and roughly corresponding to the modern City of London.
Archaeologists from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) made the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ discovery during excavations prior to construction of a new cultural quarter.
Although the site is currently cornered off from the public, experts have created an interactive 3D model that shows off the mosaic’s remarkably intricate details.
Scroll down for 3D model
Archaeologists from MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) have uncovered an incredibly well-preserved mosaic that once decorated the floor of a Roman dining room
The mosaic was found at an area of land being excavated for a new cultural quarter called The Liberty of Southwark. The exciting new finding is thought to have once lined a Roman dining room, part of a Roman mansio – an ‘upmarket motel’. It was likely located on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, an area centred on the north bank of the Thames and roughly corresponding to the modern City of London (inset right)
Discovered a stone’s throw away from The Shard, experts have determined this to be the largest area of Roman mosaic found in London for over 50 years
The mosaics will be carefully recorded and ᴀssessed by an expert team of conservators before being lifted and transported off-site, enabling more detailed conservation work to take place
The entire finding is made of two highly-decorated panels, one larger than the other but both incomplete
This pH๏τo shows the smaller panel in the background and the larger panel in the foreground being attended by excavation staff
The two highly-decorated panels are made up of small, coloured tiles set within a red tessellated floor. ‘Tessellated’ describes patterns of shapes that fit together without gaps
A bird’s eye view of the second, smaller panel, which has two Solomon’s knots, two stylised flowers and striking geometric motifs in red, white and black
MOLA site supervisor, Antonietta Lerz, called the discovery of what’s thought to be a Roman dining room ‘a once-in-a-lifetime find in London’
The dining room might have been part of a Roman mansio – an upmarket ‘motel’ offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London
Given the size of the dining room and its lavish decoration, it is believed that only high-ranking officers and their guests would have used this space
Excavations on this site have been taking place as part of the wider regeneration of the area, set to be completed in 2024 with the opening of The Liberty of Southwark.
Once completed, the new cultural quarter will provide new homes, shops, retail and workspace.
The scheme will also create new pedestrian routes, reinstating some of the medieval yards and lanes of historic Southwark.
15 Southwark Street, which dates from the 1860s, will also be restored as part of the development.
Future plans for the public display of the mosaics are currently being determined in consultation with Southwark Council.
The complete footprint of the former building is still being uncovered, but current findings suggest this was a very large complex, with multiple rooms and corridors surrounding a central courtyard
The complex was built by the river crossing that led into the city and not far from the main road connecting London to other important centres in south-eastern Britain, including Canterbury and the cross-channel port of Dover
Astonishingly, traces of an earlier mosaic underneath the one currently visible have been identified. This shows the room was refurbished over the years, perhaps to make way for the latest trends
Excavations on the site have been taking place ahead of the construction of The Liberty of Southwark, a new cultural quarter
