Dagfield antique centre, Cheshire, Uk, part 2
royal albert, wedgwood, glass, antiques,Dagfield antique centre, Cheshire, Uk, part 2
NEWS FEATURE Excavation resumed of Roman villa, found over a year ago
SHOTLIST
1. Park with Roman ruins
2. Roman aqueduct
3. Excavations site
4. Pan left of Roman Villa excavation site
5. Archaeologist at work underground
6. Various of archaeologists working
7. Worker walking along Roman floor
8. Head of excavation works Darius Arya talking to reporter
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Darius Arya, Head of Villa delle Vignacce excavation works:
The Romans in antiquity, they had more leisure time than other people and it's here in the baths that they frequently spent their time, because you could eat well, you could get a massage, you could have sex, you could gossip, you could play games, you could talk about politics, you could just spend the whole day here. So it really was the great environment in which you could pass your hours.
10. Hole with vault showing underground level still to be accessed
11. Close-up of vault
12. Details of Roman bricks in the vault
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Darius Arya, Head of Villa delle Vignacce excavation works
In the bath complexes all throughout the Roman Empire, this was the experience, but to have a bath complex of this size, this scale it's very unusual. So who is the person who lived here? He was the equivalent of a billionaire to be able to afford this large bath complex within a much larger villa situation.
14. More of site
15. Boxes holding catalogued archaeological finds
16. Various of archaeologists working at table to catalogue finds
17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Darius Arya, Head of Villa delle Vignacce excavation works:
In many places, including the Park of the Aqueduct, so famous for the Aqueducts, we are now able to fill in that picture and able to give back that piece of history that shows that people lined their luxurious villas right along the aqueducts leading into Rome, and these people lived a magnificent existence and were able to provide entertainment to the people in the outlying reaches outside the city. They were able to be the big patricians.
18. Archaeologists at work
19. Villa excavation view with aqueduct in background
STORYLINE
Archaeologists have partially unearthed a second century bath complex that, they believe was part of a vast, luxurious residence the Roman owner of which was the equivalent of a billionaire.
To have a bath complex of this size, this scale it's very unusual. So who is the person who lived here? He was the equivalent of a billionaire to be able to afford this large bath complex within a much larger villa situation, Darius Arya, the Head of Villa delle Vignacce excavation works, told AP Television.
The two-storey complex, which extends for 5 acres, includes exceptionally well-preserved and highly-decorated hot rooms, changing rooms, latrines equipped with marbled seats, and an underground working area where the slaves set the fire up to warm the rooms.
Arya said statues and water cascades decorated the interiors.
They had more leisure time than other people and it's here in the baths that they frequently spent their time, because you could eat well, you could get a massage, you could have sex, you could gossip, you could play games, you could talk about politics, you could just spend the whole day here, he said.
Arya said the complex is part of a multiple-story villa that belonged to Roman called Quintus Servilius Pudens, a friend of Hadrian the Emperor.
It is not clear if the baths were open to the public or reserved for distinguished, wealthy guests of the owner.
Arya, who is an archaeologist and professor at the American Institute for Roman Culture said people lived a magnificent existence and used the facilities to entertain others.
The excavation at Villa delle Vignacce park would last about 10 weeks, Arya said.
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Roman Archaeological Dig Bedford
Roman and Iron Age finds were unearthed in Bedford in 2010 and 2011, off Manton Lane MK41 7NH
near Bedford Modern School. Geophysical surveys suggested archaeological structures, maybe a ‘villa’,
as Roman pottery, multi-coloured wall-plaster and window glass were found, plus a substantial wall.
Bedfordshire has only two confirmed villas, as houses around the county are usually only ‘wattle and daub rural farmsteads’. At Manton Lane Roman stucco plaster work was also identified - very rare in Roman Britain, usually only found in places like high status bath houses in Pompeii. How does our high status building fit in to local area?
Last August we held a dig of three 2m x 2m test pits – and found Roman items in each. The landowner has generously allowed further investigation in 2014, and we have permission for several more test pits/trenches.
This dig is organised by experienced archaeologists, and informal training is being given to volunteers as needed.
The project is supported by Albion Archaeology, The British Museum, Staffordshire Hoard Conservation Project, Local History Groups etc. and funded by donations and people giving time, services and expertise for free!