Mosaics, mosaics, mosaics ...

Following the discovery of a fine Roman mosaic by a local builder in nearby Lopen, farmer's daughter Trudy Ridgers of Dinnington decided to have a look in her father's fields. She found fragments of mosaic of an even better quality. She called Time Team and asked it to solve the mystery of Somerset's lost Roman villas.

Massive villa complex
After the usual geophysics surveys, which produce astounding results, the Team realises it is looking at a massive villa complex – akin to a huge country mansion today. In order not to damage the site a surgical test-pit survey is first conducted to establish the depth of the archaeology. It quickly becomes clear that the Roman building is made up of a main house with huge ranges (or wings) at each end. The structure itself is some 150 metres across.

Abundance of quality finds
From the moment the digging starts it becomes clear that this was home to a high-status family. Phil Harding discovers a chequered-pattern mosaic floor just 20cm below the surface, while the topsoil is full of pottery and coins spanning centuries of occupation. Further mosaics with geometric designs are uncovered in different rooms of the villa as the dig progresses.

Another story
During the three days of excavations foundations are discovered for massive one-metre-wide internal walls, together with even larger external foundation works. The specialists conclude that this must have been a two-storey building. Then, in typical Time Team style, at the last moment another mosaic is discovered one metre below the surface – well below the other examples on the site. There must have been high-status occupation here long before the villa phase the Team has been concentrating on. But that's another story for another day.

Time Team returned to Dinnington as part of the Big Roman Dig series of programmes, a week long exploration of Roman Britain screened in July 2005, when further excavations made it clear that this was one of the most important Roman villa sites in the country. The full story was told in The Big Roman Villa; A Time Team Special, first screened on 8 January 2006.

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