New Culture Secretary, Margaret Hodge and Sophie Jackson, Museum of London archaeologist, enjoy a sneak preview of some rare Roman murals from about 120AD, found under an Italian takeaway in London. © MoLAS
New Culture Minister Margaret Hodge was at the Museum of London on July 17 to enjoy a sneak preview of a newly acquired set of Roman murals, which will go on display at the Museum at the weekend as part of National Archaeology Week.
The plaster is from one room in a high status Roman building, thought to date from 120 AD. Discovered on a site on Lime Street by the edge of Leadenhall Market in London by the Museum of London Archaeology Service in Spring 2007, the pieces actually lay hidden beneath an Italian takeaway.
Staff at the Museum have since been working on the find to piece together over 40 crates of plaster to recreate the decoration, which features an elaborate scheme with painted candelabra, fruit and flowers, birds and animals on coloured panels.
“It is astounding that we are still discovering parts of Roman London under the pavements we walk every day,” said the minister. “This ancient mural may compare to those in Pompeii, and thanks to the skills of our archaeologists and museum staff we can see how Anglo-Roman Londoners carried out their own interior decoration.”
The murals will be on public display at the Museum of London for the first time for this weekend only as part of the museum’s Roman weekend celebrations for National Archaeology Week. © MoLAS
“It is a thrill to see such a rare work of art up close. I hope National Archaeology Week prompts thousands of people to explore this hidden heritage on their doorsteps, and learn more about our neighbours from the past.”
The murals will be on free public display at the Museum of London for the first time during the weekend of July 21 and 22 only as part of the museum’s ‘Rome sweet Rome’ Roman weekend celebrations for National Archaeology Week.
During the weekend there will also be demonstrations of Roman building crafts, opportunities to handle real Roman objects and see what Roman Londoners wore.
Saturday 21 July 11am-4:30pm and Sunday 22 July 12:30-5pm
Find out what's going on near you on the National Archaeology Week website
