New archaeological research has revealed that the influence of the Roman Empire lasted much longer than scientists thought.
Archaeologists have said their scientific study of mosaics at Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire has “rewritten history”.
Historians have long believed that after the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain around 410 AD, most of its towns and villas were abandoned and the Dark Ages began.
But new analysis of the mosaics suggests that sophisticated living continued long after the Romans left.
One of the floor mosaics of Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
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National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth said: “Our whole vision of this society is wrong…Archival material suggests that the Roman Empire collapsed in Britain around 410 AD; “The evidence seems to indicate that everything has fallen apart, but that is not the case.” It means that it inevitably happened.
“There are very few pieces of history that show that a Romanized way of life still existed, especially in the West Country.
“The eastern part of Britain, closer to Germany and the Netherlands, became less Romanised more quickly. However, the western part around Gloucestershire, Dorset and Somerset seems to have resisted the Saxon advance.
“It seems more likely that those places continued to exist as normal and the situation gradually diminished rather than falling off a cliff.
“Radiocarbon dating shows that two or three generations later, when the entire country was said to have collapsed and everyone was living in shacks, there were people wealthy enough to commission new mosaics for their homes. It suggests.”
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Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire
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Charcoal samples taken from the foundation trench of the wall where the mosaic was incorporated were sent for radiocarbon dating in 2017.
They found that the earliest possible date of construction was 424 AD, suggesting that the mosaic was not actually Roman, but was created in the early Middle Ages.
The discovery confused scientists because it suggested the mosaic was built decades after Britain entered the so-called “Dark Ages.”
This is typically marked by the onset of economic, intellectual and cultural decline in Britain.
Ruins of Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire
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Professor Alice Roberts called the discovery “shocking”.
She said: “This is very exciting and it’s unlikely that it’s unique. It’s unlikely that this is the only villa that lasted into the 5th century, perhaps the 6th century.” We have to look into all the rest.”
“This is one of those times where you can truly say we’re rewriting history.”
Their discoveries feature on BBC2’s new program Digging for Britain.