Man finds rare 1,700-year-old Roman villa

[Common]

buried under family farm



A large chunk of history hid beneath this UK farm for centuries.
Jim Irvine was meandering around his father’s farm when he noticed some odd shards which, with the help of some Google Earth searches, led to one of

Britain’s most significant Roman mosaic findings in the last century, Live Science reported.
“I noticed these bits of pottery, oyster shells and what I now know to be orange Roman roof tiles. I knew that they had no business being there so when I got home I had a look at the field on Google Earth and noticed a crop mark we’d never noticed before,” Irvine told the UK publication iNews. He proceeded to consult with a local museum before digging an 8-foot trench by the crop mark, stopping when he hit tile.

These would turn out to be a rare mosaic displaying scenes from Homer’s “The Iliad” — the first-ever found in the UK and one of only a known handful in

Europe, according to a press release. The 1,700-year-old piece of art composes a wall in a Roman villa complex. Human remains were also found within the rubble that covered the mosaic.

https://nypost.com/2021/12/01/man-fi...r-family-farm/

[Street Glider]

I dig stuff like that. Very cool...

[Common]

I love these old finds...its our "TRUE" history not someones made up version....one day after im long gone, they will have the technology to unearth the real history of our world...who knows, it might be full of surprises...

[carolina73]

I always wondered how these people get compensated. Farmers that lose their fields to archeology teams and maybe their homes. Construction sites that halt multi-million dollar projects...

Are they left wishing they just kept their mouth shut, rewarded or just compensated and have to give up their assets.

[MisterVeritis]

I dig stuff like that. Very cool...

I see what you did there.

[The Booman]

The UK is loaded with Roman remains. As kids we often found Roman coins . it wasn't unusual because there was a major Roman Legion stationed nearby in Caerleon. There are probably unknown numbers of Roman buildings that will never be found because farming has torn them up over the centuries.

[Newpublius]

I always find it amazing how these places get buries over time. Famous picture of, I think Trajan's Arch, and by middle ages it was significantly buried and there's a painting where a shephard and a cow are grazing and the arch is there buried like 15-20' from Roman street level.

[Collateral Damage]

I always wondered how these people get compensated. Farmers that lose their fields to archeology teams and maybe their homes. Construction sites that halt multi-million dollar projects...

Are they left wishing they just kept their mouth shut, rewarded or just compensated and have to give up their assets.

I don't know how it works in the UK, but here in the US, most people don't actually 'own the land' below the grass line in their yard. It's called mineral rights. I quick google brought this.
If I found a gold ore under my land, could I take it as my own property and exploit it? - Quora

It would likely apply to historical finds also. Maybe part of eminent domain theft?

[RMNIXON]

When I was very young I recall wanting to find Dinosaur bones in the back yard. My parents were not at all thrilled with digging activities of course.

[carolina73]

I don't know how it works in the UK, but here in the US, most people don't actually 'own the land' below the grass line in their yard. It's called mineral rights. I quick google brought this.
If I found a gold ore under my land, could I take it as my own property and exploit it? - Quora

It would likely apply to historical finds also. Maybe part of eminent domain theft?

I get that but, if I tell no one then they don't tear down my house or tear up my fields. Then after I sell it and move for a fair price, I can tell the museum, oh BTW rumor has it there is a roman house buried near the big oak...