There is a Roman mosaic in the UK.
Jim Irvine, son of Brian Naylor, discovered the rare mosaic during the 2020 lockdown.
The mosaic depicts scenes from Homer's "The Iliad" and part of the story of the Greek hero. A villa complex with a mosaic is nearby.
The most exciting Roman mosaic discovery in the UK in the last century was said to be by John Thomas, deputy director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services.
Historic England was able to get funding for urgent archaeological investigations of the site during the 2020 lockdown because they were protected as a scheduled monument.
The site was further examined in September of 2021.
Historic England says that the art is on the floor of a dining area.
Mosaics were used in public and private buildings. There are famous figures from history and mythology. This mosaic is unique to the UK because it features the battle between Achilles and Hector at the end of the Trojan War, making it one of only a few examples from across Europe.
The villa is surrounded by a number of other buildings and features, including aisled barns, circular structures and a possible bath house.
The complex is likely to have been occupied by a wealthy individual from the late Roman period.
The site is not accessible to the public.
