Archaeologists have ‘rewritten history’ after analysing a mosaic at one of the UK’s most famous Roman villas.
The mosaic was created in the 5th century – proving sophisticated life continued long into the ‘Dark Ages’, according to the National Trust.
Historians previously believed that following the withdrawal of the Roman Empire from Britain around 410 AD, towns and villas were largely abandoned and fell into decay within a few years.
But the excavation of the mosaic at the world-famous Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, led by National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth, has proved otherwise.
‘Our whole vision of this society is wrong,’ he said.
Archaeologists have ‘rewritten history’ after analysing a mosaic at one of the UK’s most famous Roman villas
The excavation of the mosaic at the world-famous Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, led by the National Trust
A charcoal sample from the foundation trench of a wall, which the mosaic was built into, was sent for radiocarbon dating in 2017.
The test, which uses the decay of a radioactive isotope of carbon to estimate age, revealed the earliest date it could have been built as 424 AD.
This suggested the mosaic wasn’t actually Roman, but was created in the early Medieval period.
The result baffled archaeologists because it went against the established narrative that sophisticated life in Britain ceased to exist after the end of Roman rule.
Last year, the team uncovered the mosaic at the luxury 35-room mansion once again, to carry out further tests.
More samples of charcoal were selected from the trench foundation and sent for testing.
One gave a date range of 414 AD to 549 AD, and the other 420 AD to 560 AD – backing up the original result.
The median date suggested the wall, and therefore the mosaic, were most likely constructed in the 480s AD.
This was decades after Britain entered the so-called ‘Dark Ages’, which is typically characterised by the advent of economic, intellectual, and cultural decline.
A charcoal sample from the foundation trench of a wall, which the mosaic was built into, was sent for radiocarbon dating in 2017
The stunning mosaic can be found at Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Martin said: ‘Archive material suggests the Roman Empire collapsed in Britain in about 410 AD and after that the evidence seems to indicate that everything fell apart, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it did.
‘There are scant bits of history that indicate there was still a Romanised way of life – particularly in the West Country.
‘The East of Britain, which is closer to Germany and Holland, became less Romanised more quickly. But the West Country, around Gloucestershire, Dorset and Somerset, seems to resist Saxon advance.
‘It seems most likely that those places carried on as normal and that things gradually wound down, rather than falling off a cliff.
‘The radiocarbon dating results suggest there was someone wealthy enough to commission a new mosaic for their home two or three generations after people said the whole country collapsed and everyone was living in shacks.
‘This also indicates there was a trade economy and not just hand-to-mouth bartering.’
The revelation was captured in episode six of the latest series of BBC Two’s Digging for Britain, which aired on January 11.
Presenter, Professor Alice Roberts, described the discovery as ‘mind-blowing’.
Dating back to the 2nd century AD, Chedworth has a number of historically significant features – including a water-shrine, two well-defined bath-houses, a latrine, a kitchen, hypocaust systems, and a wide collection of artefacts
The median date suggested the wall, and therefore the mosaic, were most likely constructed in the 480s AD
She said: ‘This is so exciting and it’s unlikely to be unique. It’s unlikely this is the only villa that carries on into the fifth, maybe sixth centuries.
‘We have to go back and look at all the rest.
‘It’s one of those times when we can genuinely say, this is re-writing history.’
The team also took a sample of soil from directly under the mosaic and sent it off to a lab for Optically-Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating.
OSL examines the electrons emitted by fine quartz crystals within the surface soil to determine when they were last exposed to sunlight.
The sample, which was analysed by a scientist at the University of Gloucestershire, revealed the mosaic cannot be older than 400 AD.
Martin added: ‘We’ve used OSL to date several significant archaeological sites in the National Trust, and the additional confirmation provided by both this and our new radiocarbon dates adds weight to our conclusion that this is indeed a 5th century mosaic.’
Dating back to the 2nd century AD, Chedworth has a number of historically significant features – including a water-shrine, two well-defined bath-houses, a latrine, a kitchen, hypocaust systems, and a wide collection of artefacts.
The team took a sample of soil from under the mosaic and sent it off to a lab for Optically-Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating. The sample, which was analysed by a scientist at the University of Gloucestershire, revealed the mosaic cannot be older than 400 AD
Martin added: ‘We’ve used OSL to date several significant archaeological sites in the National Trust, and the additional confirmation provided by both this and our new radiocarbon dates adds weight to our conclusion that this is indeed a 5th century mosaic’
The mosaic was re-buried at the Romano-British villa following the excavation, to protect it from the weather.
Archaeologists are now studying evidence from other Roman mansions to determine whether luxurious lifestyles continued elsewhere in the UK during the Dark Ages.
Martin said: ‘Was Chedworth the only villa occupied in style into the 5th century? With the help of Professor Ken and Dr Petra Dark, evidence is now being gathered from other West Country villa archives to track down additional dating evidence.
‘This will put our 5th century Chedworth dates in context so we can further understand what life would’ve been like during this period, not only at Chedworth but within the community of villas and towns that surround it.’
He added: ‘It’s a fascinating time for archaeology – we’re essentially re-writing history.’
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