London researchers recently announced the reconstruction of a significant Roman plaster collection, revealing vibrant frescoes hidden for 1,800 years. The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) reported in a June 17 press release that one of its experts, Han Li, successfully reconstructed the collection, which consists of the largest ever discovered in London. The process required an enormous amount of effort, with Han Li spending three months arranging and piecing together thousands of fragments.
Found in a large pit, the plaster was shattered into thousands of fragments and presented a considerable challenge for the archaeologists. MOLA stated that the frescoes once adorned around 20 internal walls of an early Roman building (AD 43-150) located in Southwark, a central London district. The building was demolished sometime before AD 200, and the discovery allows for the first time in over 1800 years to witness the full glory of these artworks.
The frescoes were designed to showcase the property owner’s wealth and taste, featuring yellow panel designs with black intervals decorated with images of birds, fruit, flowers, and lyres. While panel designs were common during the Roman period, yellow panels were rare, identified at only a few sites across the country. Historians also noted the remains of the artist’s signature, framed by a tabula ansata, a decorative tablet used to sign artwork in the Roman world, bearing the Latin word ‘FECIT’ (meaning ‘has made this’). However, the fragment is broken where the painter’s name would have appeared, meaning the artist’s identity will likely remain unknown.
Among the graffiti found were various markings, including a drawing of a crying woman with a distinct Flavian period hairstyle, and the Greek alphabet. The museum speculated that the alphabet might have served a practical purpose, such as a checklist, tally, or reference. This is the only known example of its kind from Roman Britain. The discovery provides a vivid glimpse into the era when Romans ruled Britain, from 43 AD to 410 AD, maintaining their presence for nearly four centuries before beginning their withdrawal in 410 AD.
Archaeologist Han Li described the discovery as a ‘once in a lifetime moment,’ recalling the excitement and nervousness felt during the reconstruction process. The fragments were delicate, and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together during the building’s demolition, making the task akin to assembling the world’s most difficult jigsaw puzzle. Li also noted that even individuals of the late Roman period in London would not have seen these artworks, emphasizing the significance of the find.
Other recent archaeological discoveries in the UK include an unusual eight-sided ring found in a former drainage ditch and a Roman grave filled with gypsum uncovered during a highway construction project in England, highlighting the ongoing rich historical layers beneath modern Britain.