Saving Somersets Heritage

By John Winter

Clues and discovery

Long term readers of The Searcher may be familiar with the names of Mike Pittard and his partner Anne Laverty, who were first featured on these pages in 1989 when Mike found a clay pot containing a massive hoard of over 22,500 Roman coins, but thats another story and one that has been well documented. Mike has been detecting since the early 70s and Anne joined him a decade later. The lucky couple have had many detecting successes since that time. You may think that nothing could surpass such a major find as the one mentioned, but after talking with Mike, their latest discovery is down on the list as one of the favourites and of which he is most proud. The story starts here Anne began by telling me about a field they had been searching for many years. During their first outing Mike noticed building rubble and both were hopeful that there might

be a hammered coin or two waiting to be discovered, but they were disappointed. On venturing to the other end of the field they found several Roman coins and concentrated searching in that area every time they visited over the next 15 years. One particular year when Mike was passing the site, he noticed that it had been rough ploughed, so decided to walk over it. At the far end he was surprised to discover a large lump of tesserae. Mike knew that the inch-size squares of greystone tesserae were generally used for pathways in Roman times, and was keen to investigate further. At that time, the farmer didnt realise the importance of the find but gave permission for Mike to dig a small exploratory test hole. However, at this stage, local archaeologists didnt seem too interested and Mike never got around to making the investigation. Every subsequent year they were seeing evidence just lying in the

topsoil and suspected that whatever lay underneath was being slowly destroyed. Naturally, they were concerned. In the Spring of 2008 the couple were out detecting and curiosity got the better of Mike and so dug a hole to see what was underneathat around a depth of 10 he came across an area of grey tesserae and immediately informed the farmer who arrived to help and scrape a small area of ground. The remaining soil was carefully brushed away. Anne was the first to notice that the colour of the tesserae had changed and she excitedly informed the others that she had found a blue, red and white mosaic, describing the flower and diamond patterns as fantastic! As you can imagine, the discovery gave the finders a buzz when they realised that they were the first to view in at least 1,600 years. Anne managed to take a couple of pictures before it started to rain.

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Calling in the experts

The farmer provided plastic sheeting and they carefully covered and marked the site then informed Bob Croft, the Somerset Chief Archeologist and expert on Roman mosaics. After looking at and considering the pictures, Bob had talks with the farmer and liaised with English Heritage. In the Autumn of 2008, a two-day geophysical test of the area was conducted by a specialist team. They carried out magnetometer and earth resistance surveys to define the extent of Roman activity and also advised on the potential threat from plough damage and unsupervised treasure hunting. To everyones shock and surprise, the survey revealed the presence of a large, aisled hall style Roman building containing a mosaic and apparently set within a more extensive system of angular ditched enclosures. An example of the sort of result revealed from the survey can be seen in figure 1.

Figure 1

The site of the find is near to the Fosse Way, a Roman road which is now the A303 and once one of the major routes of Roman Britain. Bob Croft said that the area was very popular in the Roman period and had been described as a 4th century millionaires row with over 80 villas. It must be remembered that any house of that period may be called a villa, which means farm in Latin, but the one found by Mike and Anne suggests that it is indeed the remains of a pretty high-status house of the rich, the centre of a farming estate, highly organised and employing large numbers of farm workers and servants.

Indeed, in terms of its size, the villa discovered by them is a good example of the above, has survived reasonably well and, can be considered one of the top twenty in the country, commented Bob Croft. He went on to say that it dated from the middle of the 4th century and very similar to the famous one found at the village of Lopen in 2001. He concluded, this is a very special find by Anne and Mike. The small book, Roman Mosaics in Somerset, edited by Bob Croft states that with the cutting of the tie with the rest of the Roman Empire in the early 5th century, the Romanised society and economy of the South West went into a long decline. When the villas were finally abandoned is unknown, but recent work by archaeologists has shown the continued occupation and agricultural use of at least parts of these buildings well into the 5th century and perhaps later. In the Autumn of 2009, locally based archaeologist Alan Graham, began the task of evaluating the area to establish the plan and alignment of the building, to establish its condition and to define the quality of preservation. I know that initially Anne and Mike were dismayed that only one lone archaeologist had been assigned to what looked like a mammoth task, but this wasnt to be a full scale dig to unearth a mosaic, but simply an evaluation. On the basis of Alans report and in consultations with the archaeological service, the landowner, English Heritage and others, I am given to understand that decisions will be made about the way forward and thus protecting the site. Alan is a veteran of as well as acting team leader on many rescue villa excavations in the area. He proved to be diligent, hardworking and a human cornucopia of useful information, especially on Roman Villas... as I was soon to discover!

Week 1 Willing helpers

After waiting patiently for the crop to be lifted and the friendly farmer to abstain from ploughing the surveyed area of the villa, work eventually started. Of course,

Sods Law had kicked in that week and it was decreed that the weather would be wet, windy and very uncomfortable and, by and large, it was to remain that way throughout the excavation. Nevertheless, Mike had arranged his annual two-week holiday to help the archaeologist in any way he could and the farmer brought along one of his machines to help extract tons of top soil. For the first three days our two men in the trench worked diligently with spade and trowel to reach the Roman walls and floor whilst Anne busied herself helping with the smaller tasks and shouting encouragement from the sidelines. The site was relatively hidden in the corner of a large field and safe from prying eyes, but I cannot help but wonder what the more observant villager had wondered what was going on especially when seeing two guys laboriously pushing a wheelbarrow and struggling with assorted digging paraphernalia over the rough muddy terrain of a ploughed field. Near the end of the week, Anne contacted me and extended an invite to witness the possible uncovering of the mosaic. My wife Lynda and I hurriedly arranged a cat-sitter, booked into a local hostelry and embarked on the long journey. When we finally reached our destination, I now think it was prescient of her to call in at the village shop to buy a pair of Marigolds and a couple of small brushes, but the purchase meant nothing to me at the time. The incessant and unrelenting rain had turned the set-aside into a quagmire. As we pulled to the field we saw Anne sheltering in her car waiting for us. We were shown the results of the 2008 archeological survey and pictures of a small mosaic fragment taken when Anne and Mike had first found the villa. It was all very exciting! However, Anne was just a little anxious as wed travelled some distance, and she feared that we might be disappointed as there was so little to see. After the ten minute trudge to the site in the corner of the field and viewing the 20 x 30 (approximately) trench, I was beginning to think she was right! www.thesearcher.co.uk March 2010

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Muddy trek

Lynda was keen to help and Alan gave her a small task brushing a section of emerging tesserae. Water was labouriously carted from the farmyard for the purpose, necessitating another long and muddy trek for Alan. Ironically, a cattle trough was later located at the corner of the field, so making the task easier.

It was thought that the mosaic currently being uncovered could be attributed to the Lindinis Group, so called after the Roman Name for Ilchester, the groups notional centre. At the time, all I basically knew about a mosaic is that it was a picture or pattern made from small cubes of stone or tile (tesserae). I was keen to learn where the Somerset craftsmen got the raw materials. Alan told me that blue-grey and white Lias limestone was the most common material used and easily obtainable from local sources. Indeed, I noticed some houses in the area built of soft-coloured blue Lias limestone with distinctive clay-tiled roofs. The red tesserae were made from fired clay tiles also shaped either by using a hammer and anvil or by using pliers.

What you can also clearly see from the pictures is that individual tesserae used in the mosaic varied in size. The larger type, about 30mm square, is employed in the coarse borders down to the much smaller 5mm square used for detailed figurative work.

Next day
The following day my wife and I were at the field bright and early. It was still raining. She was excited and exhilarated just thinking about the work ahead. Her cleaning technique had been approved and she was raring to go. While Mike and Alan busied themselves uncovering walls and borders, Lynda concentrated on revealing a portion of the detailed figurative work. Anne and I radiated approval from the muddy sidelines! You will notice from the pictures that remains of walls and substantial stone foundations are in evidence. It was beginning to look as though this was a courtyard villa linked together by corridors, verandas or both. We began to wonder if there might also be a separate bath house with hypocaust nearby!

The making of mosaics

I made a few notes and exchanged stories with Anne as the work slowly and painstakingly continued. The pattern magically beginning to appear was a distinctive geometric design, although a vase and flowers were later visible.

Alan shows Mike the cleaning technique

Alan explained that a layer of fine gravel was laid as a compact foundation. Then a layer of concrete with gravel or crushed tile or layers of lime mortar were added. The tesserae were embedded in a final layer of mortar and then the spaces between were grouted using a liquid mortar. The pattern

Geometric design

Nothing is known for certain about the craftsmen who created the mosaics for Somerset villas, or about the way the craft was organised. As they laboured, Alan was able to fill me in on some of the details. Evidently, archaeologists studying mosaics in Britain have identified distinctive styles and some scholars believe that mosaicists may have been largely itinerant, moving from villa to villa in response to commissions from wealthy patrons. Mosaics often share the same designs and motifs and such similarities have a geographical component.

Substantial stone foundations

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would then be marked out so the craftsmen could begin the painstaking task of laying the tesserae, a job taking several weeks to complete. Unfortunately that firm base can be seen to have experienced trauma in the past, for a medieval drainage ditch cuts straight through the site and can be seen in some of the pictures. I wonder if those earlier navvies had noticed or even cared about all the coloured bits of stone strewn about? At the end of a second day we made our way back home, amazed at what we had witnessed, feeling rather privileged that we had been invited, and rather sad to think that after detailed records had been made the mosaic would be covered over and the farmer will continue to sow, reap and plough like he had for years previously. Only this time, he would have more than an inkling of what lay just several inches beneath the soil.

the mosaic with sponges and water. You may discern from some of the pictures a twisted rope design. Roman mosaics are built up from standard patterns and the rope design, most often used in borders to frame other stylised elements is called guilloche.

There were also visitors on this day. Some came to look and wonder, but former FLO Naomi Payne now an Historic Environment Officer - turned up with a friend and both did sterling work uncovering and cleaning even more of the mosaic. The farmer brought his parents to take a look.

Week 2
But that wasnt the end. Unknown to me, another trench was started by Mike and Alan, adjacent to the one already investigated and the newer mosaic discovered promised to be even more interesting. This information was conveyed to us by an excited Anne, and she urged us to get back down there if we could.
Naomi and Lynda Rope design guilloche

Anne spent many hours on her hands and knees and uncovered a beautiful vase spilling water mosaic.

Alan teetered precariously on a flimsy 30 aluminum ladder to take overhead pictures using Anne and me as a steadying ballast, and even the sun made a very brief but welcome appearance.

Understanding the archaeology

Knowledge of the local community is considered significant and important. One of Bob Crofts roles is to publicise the county and its archaeology and to enhance public understanding. Archaeology is a great fascination to a lot of people so bearing that in mind and on the final day, the local primary school children were invited to view the newly uncovered mosaic. What an experience for them and one which they will never forget. In the wider Ilchester area over 40 villas many of them with mosaics are known, though very few have been excavated. We can rest assured that the site has at least been satisfactorily recorded, protected, backfilled with soil and safely put to bed before the winter frosts. The purpose of the dig was to try and determine the nature of the building, the period of its occupation and so on was it a courtyard villa as initially thought, or something else? No doubt there will be a press statement forthcoming, but we shall have to wait for a final report from archaeologist, Alan Graham, the purpose of which is protection of the site, taking stock and deciding what to do next as regards long term preservation. Maybe we can bring you extracts from that report when it is published. Evidence of a bath house and hypercaust were found. In conclusion, we must remember that this rare and unusual site would still be hidden and slowly disappearing if it hadnt been discovered and reported by two www.thesearcher.co.uk March 2010

General view

Initially, the priority had been to expose, clean and record the mosaic. Also, by careful cleaning to understand something of the building in which it lay. It was evident that in less than one week of intensive work by a single archaeologist and a couple of volunteers that objective hadnt been achieved. There was more work to be done! When we arrived on site, the heavy digging had been done. Lynda donned her rubber gloves and, taking instructions from the resident expert Alan, continued the slow, labourious, yet enjoyable task of cleaning

Our education on Roman mosaics continued with Alan telling us that the more elaborate designs would first be drawn out on the mortar base, Alternatively, panels might be fabricated in a workshop where the design was sketched in a tray of fine sand. The tesserae were then laid face up and pieces of linen cloth glued onto the surface, using a flour and water paste. When the glue was set, the panel could be transported and set in place. Washing removed the glue and the tesserae were then grouted.

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observant detectorists, Anne Laverty and Mike Pittard. The historical record is much richer because of their dedication and longterm commitment to the hobby of metal detecting. Through their awareness of the surrounding landscape and realising the significance of found materials other then metal has vastly benefited the local population, archaeologists and others. I thank them for allowing me to share in the excitement of their magnificent find.

Cleaning the mosaic

For helping with the production of this article my thanks are also extended to my sub-editor, chauffeuse and general factotum Lynda; to archaeologist Alan Graham for his scholarly wisdom and good cheer and also to Mr Bob Croft for allowing me to use material from the small book he edited. Roman Mosaics in Somerset is available from Somerset Council Heritage Service, priced at about 3.
Mosaic pattern

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www.thesearcher.co.uk March 2010

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