A Roman villa containing a rare mosaic that depicts scenes from Homer’s Iliad has been found beneath a farmer’s field.
The mosaic, found in Rutland, has been described as the first example of its kind in the UK.
It was discovered by the landowner’s son and investigated by archaeologists from the University of Leicester.
Historic England described the mosaic as “one of the most remarkable and significant… ever found in Britain”.
The mosaic and surrounding villa complex have now been protected as a Scheduled Monument by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England.
The complex is thought to have been occupied by a wealthy individual from the late Roman period.
