A richly decorated Roman villa with "curse tablets"; was found in England (photo)
Archaeologists have unearthed a "magnificent" Roman villa with a host of artefacts including "curse tablets" during preparations for a new housing development in Oxfordshire.
The villa, located in Brookside Meadows in the village of Grove, Wantage, was once richly decorated with stucco and mosaics typical of the Roman style, writes dailymail.co.uk.
Experts believe it was a nave building – a type of rectangular Roman villa that was divided into a main central area and two flanking naves, somewhat like a church.
Also read: In England, the search for the treasures of King John I has begun: details
A treasure trove of items was also found at the site, including:
- Roman "cursing tablets"
- Buckles for belts
- Coins
- Axes
- Rings
- Brooches
- Belt buckle with a horse's head
- Fragments of Roman chimney tiles
- Fragments of Sami ceramics
Most intriguing of all is the discovery of the tightly rolled lead scrolls, which, although empty when unrolled, resemble the famous Roman "cursing tablets."
Roman curse tablets were messages of vengeance on small sheets of lead or tin that asked the gods and spirits to act on their behalf.
The presence of both curse tablets and miniature votive axes suggests a pilgrimage or ritual element somewhere at the site.
We will remind you that archaeologists found a construction site from the time of Ancient Rome in Pompeii.
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