London archaeologists have uncovered a stunning discovery: a collection of thousands of fragments of a 2,000-year-old Roman fresco that once decorated an upscale villa in Southwark, often described as the “Beverly Hills of Roman London.”
Exposed in 2021 during site redevelopment, the fragments of broken plaster were laboriously reassembled by Han Li, senior building material specialist at the Museum of London Archaeology (MoLA), describing it as reassembling the world’s most challenging jigsaw puzzle.
The reconstructed frescoes, extending across approximately 20 walls of the Roman house, feature vivid depictions of birds, fruits, flowers, lyres, and subtle panels, including rare yellow motifs seldom found in Britain.
Among the fragments, researchers found a signature with the inscription containing the Latin “Fecit” (“has made this”) in a Roman carving of a decorative tablet called tabula ansata, used to sign artwork, though the artist’s name remains unknown because a part is missing.
In addition, faint graffiti, including the only known Roman-era Greek alphabet inscription in Britain, provides evidence for the potential commercial character of the building, potentially related to trade or storage, as suggested by archaeologists.
The fresco style indicates influence throughout the empire, with comparisons made to French and German artworks, and to highly skilled artists. Excavation also revealed evidence of everyday Roman life, including painter’s guidelines and graffiti depicting a crying woman and other sketches.
Andrew Henderson-Schwartz from Mola emphasized that this find confirms early Roman London’s prosperity and strategic importance, describing the site as a wealthy suburb comparable to Beverly Hills.
The discovery not only underscores London’s historical significance but also enhances our understanding of Roman Britain’s cultural landscape, revealing a city that was growing rapidly and investing in its infrastructure.
With archaeologists still studying and analyzing these frescoes, the hope remains that additional fragments, including the missing signature work, will be discovered, potentially revealing the identities of the talented artists who created this ancient artwork.
More information: Museum of London Archaeology
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