Project Consultant Christine Shaw
The external links on this page have now been updated due to a whole range of modifications to other folks' websites.
A full-scale construct of a Roman Villa, based on the excavations at Sparsholt [this link gives a, location map for the site of the excavation, on a cycle track route], Hampshire, UK has been built at the Ancient Farm and some studies have begun, under the aegis of various university departments. This reflects the new approach to carrying out research studies at BAF, where professional supervison and staffing is introduced from outside the Farm but draws on the resources and experience available here, as a consequence of Peter Reynolds long-standing work.
The building is based on the earliest phase identified during excavation and on-going interpretation was available at the outset through discussion with the excavator, David Johnston, past lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at Southampton University, England and a member of the original study group that proposed to the CBA the formation of Butser Ancient Farm as a project. Once the building rose above ground level a wider range of information had to be drawn upon, in order to progress decisions about the style of the construction, although the original excavation provides most of what needs to be known about the materials of constuction. This is recorded in the book by Dai Morgan Evans and Christine Shaw covering the entire building project.
The first stage concentrated on the northern end of the building which included a channelled hypocaust. The excavation evidence had been faithfully replicated and the projected superstructure was to be progressed. The hypocaust was in situ and was covered by an opus signinum floor. However, to meet the needs of filming and to cope with the severe slope of the ground, the whole work was removed in late August 2002, which was a great loss, since it had been the last work that had been created by Peter Reynolds, prior to his death, and he had been justifiably proud of the praefurnian arch and the even flow of smoke up all the wall flues, tested using a smoke bomb.
During construction, David Johnston released further excavation details from the "Day" books he kept at the time. This led to a modification in the way that the outer flint walls were constructed. The initial approach differed somewhat but the loss of time and effort did not justify destruction of the work to that date. As the new style of construction emerged, it allowed contrasts to be made between at least two of the known styles of wall building. It was also learnt why construction of villas by the Romans was suspended during winter .... the lime mortar simply did not lose any water and insufficient strength developed to support subsequent layers.
Details of the original roofing can be got from the Database of Roman Purbeck Limestone : roofing , where a link to the original publication by Williams [1971] exists. Eventually, it was accepted that the cost of anything equivalent to the original roof was prohibitive. Combined with the need for sponsorship/funding and for meeting current construction and safety regulations, a boarded and tiled roof was accepted, although the supporting beams and trusses are based on known examples and materials.
Details of the original principal mosaic can be seen by a visit to Winchester City Museum.
Learn more about the recording of Roman Mosaics from ASPROM ( Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics ).
The funding from the Discovery Channel and other sources ensured that this, the first Roman style villa in the UK for 1500 years or so, was successfully completed and is now available for study. Some of the lessons, as work progressed, are available on this website.
Mosaics and wall paintings have been added, along with outside painting of the plaster finish. A range of window styles and grilles, based on known examples, have been inserted for contrast and comparison.
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Created 01 August 2001 - Updated 4 April 2008