London Unearths Largest Roman Fresco Collection in 1,800-Year Discovery

Archaeologists in London have uncovered one of the largest collections of painted Roman wall plaster ever found in the city, originating from a high-status Roman building in Southwark that was demolished before 200 CE. The shards, discovered at a development site known as The Liberty, were scattered and damaged but have been meticulously pieced together over several months by experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), led by Senior Building Material Specialist Han Li. The frescoes feature rare yellow panel designs adorned with birds, fruit, flowers, lyres, and marble-like effects, reflecting a blend of classical Roman themes with local Northwestern European influences. This discovery complements earlier finds at the same site, including mosaics and a Roman mausoleum, highlighting the area's historical significance during Roman Britain. The restoration work reveals the complexity and cultural richness of Roman interior decoration, providing a rare glimpse into the artistic sophistication of the era. The painstaking reconstruction process was likened to assembling the world's hardest jigsaw puzzle due to the fragility and jumbling of thousands of fragments.