Aldi Supermarket Construction Pauses After Discovery Of Roman Villa Floors
Amid construction for a new Aldi supermarket in Olney, Buckinghamshire UK, archaeologists stumbled upon a surprising and historical find.
Hidden under the site for the new grocery store laid a well-preserved mosaic floor that once belonged to an ancient Roman villa and bathhouse. The BBC describes the tiling as having “vibrant colors and intricate decorative patterns” in blue, red, and white swirling designs.
Oxford Archeology, who worked on the excavation, posits that the design belongs to a Drobrivan group from the east Midlands.
As preparations for the new Aldi were being made, the developers of Angle Property commissioned the team to examine the site due to its proximity to another location where other Roman remains were found. The artifacts found nearby include water cisterns, indicating the possibility of a bathhouse somewhere in the area.
Lo and behold, there it was, tucked away for centuries, where an Aldi was about to be erected. This alludes to the likelihood of an even larger ancient complex that rests beneath modern-day Olney.
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A consultation with the Milton Keynes City Council and Historic England resulted in the go-ahead of the supermarket, but only after protective material is placed over the mosaic to prevent damages. Angle Property has also mentioned that the findings will be appropriately recorded and published in due course.
[via Artnet News and BBC, images via various sources ]
