While workers were digging a trench to lay some electrical cable for home owner Luke Irwin in Wiltshire, they discovered a Roman era mosaic floor which would lead to the discovery of one of Britain’s best preserved Roman villas.

Local government officers were called in to inspect the find which led to an investigation by archaeologists from the Salisbury Museum the researchers carried out a geophysical survey of the site and an eight-day investigative dig. Below Irwin’s lawn they found the centre of one of the largest Roman villas found in Britain dating to the late second century or early third century A.D. and apparently occupied until late in the fourth century.

The dig uncovered other artefacts including coins and high status pottery, a Roman well and the stone coffin of a Roman child.

Furthermore, other interesting finds included pieces of pottery from the fifth century after the end of Roman rule in Britain it appears that the abandoned villa was partially refitted by people who erected timber structures inside the villa’s ruined stone walls.