Roman Villas Found Hidden Underground in 'Fascinating' Discovery

Archaeologists have identified the remains of what appear to be two previously unknown ancient Roman villas hidden below the ground in the United Kingdom.

The potential Roman remains were documented during a pioneering survey carried out at the 18th-century Attingham Estate in the county of Shropshire, located in the West Midlands of England.

The estate, which spans an area of around 1,600 hectares, is owned by the National Trust—an independent conservation charity that was also responsible for commissioning the survey.

The estate today encompasses woodland, parkland, farmland and properties. The area has attracted settlers for thousands of years due to its proximity to the confluence of two rivers and its fertile agricultural land.

Within the grounds of the estate, evidence has previously been uncovered of prehistoric human activity, Roman urban and rural settlements, Anglo-Saxon great halls and evolving farming systems through the medieval and post-medieval periods.

The latest geophysical survey—the largest ever commissioned by the trust—investigated more than 1,000 hectares using innovative scanning and mapping technology, casting new light on Attingham's archaeological treasures.

Geophysical surveys enable researchers to understand what lies beneath the ground where potential archaeological remains may be found using non-invasive techniques that do not involve excavation or ground disturbance.

"Attingham Estate has always been known to have high historical and archaeological significance, which has now been confirmed by the largest geophysical survey the National Trust has ever undertaken," National Trust archaeologist Janine Young said in a press release.

"This new geophysical survey has really transformed our knowledge by establishing a comprehensive 'map' of what is below our feet, providing us with a fascinating picture of the estate's hidden past, revealing previously unknown sites of importance."

Among the notable features identified by the survey was evidence of what experts believe are the two villas, as well as a Roman roadside cemetery. These remains are located on a road leading out of Wroxeter, which was one of the largest cities in Roman Britain—the settlement was once roughly the size of Pompeii in Italy.

Wroxeter was founded in the mid-1st century A.D. as a legionary fortress, with the city established later toward the end of the century. Today, the Roman settlement is exceptionally well-preserved, having been largely undisturbed by later occupation.

Villas were high-status rural dwellings—the Roman equivalent of a large country estate. They are not uncommon across Britain, although only six are currently known to be within Shropshire.

Not much is known yet about the possible villas identified by the survey, which has only revealed approximate floor plans of the buildings. But the structures are recognizable by their regularity and signs of internal room divisions—not to mention their proximity to the road leading out of Wroxeter.

Roman villas such as these in Britain were usually kept warm by hypocausts—an ancient system of underfloor heating. They also often had their own bath houses and were decorated with painted plaster and mosaic-laid floors.

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