Archaeologists Reassemble Roman-Era Frescoes from Thousands of Fragments in London
A spectacular discovery beneath the streets of modern-day London is reshaping our understanding of Roman art and luxury. Archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) have painstakingly reconstructed massive 2,000-year-old frescoes unearthed during a 2021 excavation in Southwark.
Described as the “Beverly Hills of Roman London,” this area once hosted a grand Roman villa adorned with opulent wall paintings. Over 20 individual walls were once covered in colorful, intricate frescoes—now slowly brought back to life, piece by fragile piece.
The World’s Hardest Jigsaw Puzzle
Han Li, the lead archaeologist on the project, has spent months sorting through the delicate remains, carefully aligning pigments and patterns. The fresco fragments—numbering in the thousands—are extremely fragile, limiting the number of attempts one can make to piece them together before damage occurs.
“It’s probably the biggest collection of Roman wall paintings ever found in London,” said Li.
One of the most striking pieces measures 5 meters wide by 3 meters high. It features a pink marble-style base, bordered in green, and golden-yellow panels above. The artwork includes lyres (stringed instruments), birds like white cranes, dainty daisies, and vines—possibly mistletoe, a local British plant. This twist suggests Roman artists may have adapted classical styles to regional flora.
Mysterious Signature: “FECIT”
One remarkable fragment bears the Latin word “FECIT”, meaning “has made this.” Though the artist’s name is missing from the broken edge, archaeologists believe this was the signature of one of the fresco painters. They hope further excavations may yield the missing piece.
Comparisons with other Roman frescoes from across Europe indicate these paintings were likely created by highly trained, itinerant artisans who traveled the Roman Empire taking on elite commissions.
A Window Into Roman Londinium’s Elite Life
The villa is thought to date from the first or second century AD, shortly after the Romans founded Londinium in AD 43. This particular structure may have housed a wealthy family—or even served as a lavish hotel for well-heeled travelers.
The site has also yielded a Roman mosaic and a cemetery, adding layers to the story of a thriving suburban Roman community just south of the Thames.
“It’s clear this was a place of affluence and ambition,” said Andrew Henderson-Schwartz of MOLA. “Far from a remote outpost, Roman London was a city of permanence, with people investing in architecture and culture.”
More to Be Discovered
As excavations continue, archaeologists remain hopeful of discovering even more fragments, possibly including the elusive signature of the artist behind these masterpieces. Each piece adds to the intricate portrait of daily and decorative life in ancient Britain’s most important Roman city.
