'Incredibly rare' Roman mausoleum unearthed at construction site in London
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Archaeologists have discovered an extremely unique Roman mausoleum in south London.
A mausoleum is an old monumental tomb. The incredibly rare tomb and mosaics were unearthed prior to construction work at the site of The Liberty of Southwark in London. The discoveries, according to the authors, are a “testament to the rich tapestry” of the past.
“These extraordinary finds add great significance to the already culturally rich location of The Liberty of Southwark,” said Marcus Geddes, Managing Director for Workplace at Landsec, in a press release.
The Museum of London Archaeology(MOLA) undertook archaeological investigations on behalf of the site's owners, Landsec and Transport for London(TfL), as well as Southwark Council.
What do the finds depict?
The mausoleum's well-preserved remnants include walls and internal floors. A beautiful mosaic adorns the center of the tomb, flanked by an elevated platform. The archaeologists postulate that the burials were placed on these raised platforms.
The MOLA team also discovered a second mosaic just beneath the first. This suggests that the building was probably modified at some point over its lifespan.
“The two mosaics are similar in design, with a central flower surrounded by a pattern of concentric circles set within a pavement formed of small red tiles,” adds the statement.
The recovered structure indicates that it was most likely a two-story building supported by huge buttresses.
Mausoleum used by wealthy Romans
According to the experts, the tomb was probably utilized by wealthy Romans at the time. It might have been a "family tomb" or a "burial club" with certain members paying a fee to utilize the facilities.
Although no coffins were found at this location, they did retrieve nearly 100 coins along with pieces of metal, earthenware, and roofing tile fragments.
Over 80 Roman burial tombs were found in the area surrounding the mausoleum, as well as personal items such as copper bracelets, glass beads, coins, crockery, and a bone comb.
Interestingly, in 2022, researchers unearthed some of the biggest Roman mosaics in 50 years from this same location.
“This relatively small site in Southwark is a microcosm for the changing fortunes of Roman London – from the early phase of the site where London expands and the area has lavishly decorated Roman buildings, all the way through to the later Roman period when the settlement shrinks and it becomes a more quiet space where people remember their dead. It provides a fascinating window into the living conditions and lifestyle in this part of the city in the Roman period,” said Antonietta Lerz, senior archaeologist at MOLA.
The team's next goal is to determine the actual age of the tomb and create a permanent-public display of the latest findings.
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