Roman mosaic atrium of a substantial town house with a paving of plain stone “tesserae” and mosaic geometric flower pattern insets. The house dates from 70 AD and was occupied until about 350 AD.
Roman mosaic atrium of a substantial town house with a paving of plain stone “tesserae” and mosaic geometric flower pattern insets. The house dates from 70 AD and was occupied until about 350 AD.
Two Kent themes run through this object. The nature of its discovery while repairing Second World War bomb damage and its evidencing of the long term influence and settled lifestyles of invaders who used Kent as the ‘bridgehead of their attacks but went on to shape the culture and the landscape.
When excavating under cellars of shops destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, archaeologists discovered parts of a very large Roman town house. It had costly features – a ‘hypocaust’ under-floor heating system, floor mosaics and wall paintings. Built about AD 70, the house was rebuilt and extended over 300 years until about AD 350, when it was vacated. The floor of the house has a paving of plain stone “tesserae” with mosaic insets. These have geometrical flower patterns with interlaced borders.
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