Ancient Roman Dolphin Mosaic Discovered by Archaeologists in Viroconium Cornoviorum in England

Archaeologists in northwestern England, initially searching for an ancient temple, have made an unexpected and stunning discovery: a magnificent Ancient Roman mosaic crafted from white, red, blue, and yellow tiles, depicting dolphins and fish.

This vibrant artwork was uncovered in the Roman city of Viroconium Cornoviorum, now the village of Wroxeter, and is believed to date back to the 2nd century AD, Vianova Archaeology announced in a release.

Thus, the latest archaeological dig in Shropshire has uncovered significant evidence of urban life in Roman Britain, dating back nearly 2,000 years.

The site in Wroxeter has yielded parts of an intricately decorated mosaic, a potential shrine or mausoleum, a substantial roadside civic building, and possible indications of a nearby temple.

Wroxeter, once a legionary fortress, was founded as a city towards the end of the 1st century.

Known as Viroconium Cornoviorum during the Roman era, it was one of the largest cities in Roman Britain, encompassing about 80 hectares and housing an estimated 15,000 inhabitants.

The discovery of the mosaic, which depicts an aquatic scene with stylized dolphins and various fish, marks the first find of its kind at Wroxeter since 1859.

The mosaic adorned a room in a sizable townhouse likely owned by a wealthy family.

The walls of the mosaic room have preserved their original painted plaster.

The mosaic, believed to date from the 2nd century AD, survived subsequent renovations during the late 3rd or 4th centuries AD when the room was filled with debris to align the house’s interior with the elevated street level.

The structure identified as a potential shrine or mausoleum is a small square building with a central chamber, possibly several stories high originally, and its exterior walls still partially coated with painted plaster.

If it served as a mausoleum, it likely contained the remains of a prominent figure from the city’s formative period.

The civic building uncovered along one of the main streets opposite the city’s forum-basilica was narrow but extended at least 50 meters in length.

It featured a heavily buttressed rear wall suggesting it could have been a multi-story structure and had interiors decorated with painted plaster. Its floor had been elevated at least once.

Though direct evidence of a temple was not found, the numerous complete and broken pottery vessels discovered may represent offerings to deities worshipped in the area.

This excavation was part of a collaborative project between the University of Birmingham, Vianova Archaeology & Heritage Services, and Albion Archaeology, sponsored by English Heritage Trust.

Thirty archaeologists, including 20 students and volunteers, participated in the month-long dig.

Over a thousand visitors attended guided tours to observe the excavation.

Funding for the project was provided by Dr. Mike Watts and Jolanda Watts, Cardiff University, and the John Pagett Memorial Trust.

Historic England conducted preliminary geophysical surveys, and aerial photography and photogrammetry were managed by Dr. Paul Belford of Heritage Innovation.

Dr. Peter Guest of Vianova Archaeology, noted the excavation’s success.

“This was a fantastic project to be part of and it was a privilege to be invited by English Heritage to excavate at such an iconic site as Wroxeter. What we found this season surpassed all our expectations – no-one would have thought that Wroxeter’s Roman remains survive so amazingly well here, or that we should see phenomenal archaeology in each of our trenches,” Guest said.

“The mosaic is a truly lovely thing and it was a joy to watch it being uncovered and cleaned – like looking at a 2,000 year-old aquarium frozen in stone! The shrine or mausoleum is another very special find because it would seem to date from the earliest chapters in Wroxeter’s history as a Roman site, perhaps from the decades when it was a military base from which the conquest of the Celtic tribes in modern Wales was launched,” he elaborated.

Dr. Roger White of the University of Birmingham added, “Having spent many years excavating and studying Wroxeter Roman City, and its later history, it was enormously exciting to be involved in making such major new discoveries”

“We have long suspected that a major public building was located here and while we have now confirmed that this is the case, the building is in some respects puzzling to understand. This is not so surprising given how large this building seems to have been, but the new knowledge is startling evidence for the wealth and confidence of the founders of the city,” he expressed.

“This confidence is breathtakingly emphasised by the extraordinary survival of a multi-coloured mosaic and substantial surviving frescoed walls built in the first few decades of the city’s existence. It is extremely rare to find both a mosaic and its associated wall plaster, and nothing like it has ever been found at Wroxeter before,” White explained.

“Importantly, the site also offers scientific opportunities to understand how the Roman city became productive farmland for more than 1500 years following its demise in the fifth century. This part of the former city was never ploughed in modern times and our research into evidence for ancient ploughing may offer insights into the future evolution of the soil in the light of climate change,” he added.

Win Scutt, Senior Properties Curator at English Heritage, reflected on the significance of the discovery of the Ancient Roman mosaic.

“What a discovery! Although much of Wroxeter is unexcavated, geophysical surveys have helped us understand the layout of the city and we were aware that to the north of the forum there was another large civic building, almost certainly the main civic temple, buried underground,” he said.

“Our excavations were in hope of discovering the walls of this building, but we never suspected we would find a beautiful and intact mosaic, which had lain hidden for thousands of years. This discovery, alongside a large number of small finds such as coins, will go a long way in helping us to date the various phases of the city and indicate the kinds of activities that were taking place. It’s always an astonishing moment when you uncover a fragment of beauty hiding just below the ground,” Scutt concluded.

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