Villa Rustica (Halstock)

The Villa Rustica near Halstock was a Roman manor ( Villa rustica ) in the area of ​​today's Halstock , a village in the county of Dorset in south-west England .

The Roman manor is in a valley at the north end of the northern Dorset Downs , near a spring. In ancient times it was about five kilometers west of a Roman road that connected the Roman cities of Lindinis ( Ilchester ) and Durnovaria ( Dorchester ).

The first investigations of the remains took place between 1817 and 1818, and two large mosaics were found. There were further excavations in 1901. However, the villa was only systematically excavated from 1967 to 1985. The villa consisted of a series of buildings grouped around a large courtyard to the north, east and south. The oldest remains probably date to the 2nd century AD. Arcadius coins indicate that it was in use until the 5th century. Above all in a bathing building on the east wing of the building there were numerous mosaics, including a floor about 10 × 3 meters. All mosaics are decorated with geometric patterns. Today some of them are lost, have been brought to the museum or have been filled in again after the excavation.

literature

• Stephen R. Cosh, David S. Neal: Roman Mosaics of Britain. Volume 2: South-West Britain. Illuminata Publishers for the Society of Antiquaries of London, London 2005, ISBN 0-9547916-1-4 , pp. 142-149.

Coordinates: 50 ° 51 ′ 58 "  N , 2 ° 40 ′ 2"  W.