London's Largest Roman Frescoes Reconstructed by MOLA

Archaeologists have reconstructed thousands of fragments of 2,000-year-old Roman wall plaster, forming the largest known collection of painted frescoes from Roman London. The fragments, discovered in 2021 at a redevelopment site in Southwark, were once part of at least 20 internal walls of a luxurious villa. The frescoes feature vivid images of birds, fruit, flowers, musical instruments, and rare yellow panel designs, reflecting the villa owners' wealth and taste. The reconstruction was led by Han Li from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) and uncovered a rare painter's signature marked 'fecit' and unique graffiti in the ancient Greek alphabet, both unprecedented in Roman Britain. The artworks combine classical Roman motifs with local elements, such as mistletoe, demonstrating cultural adaptation. Ongoing analysis by experts may reveal further insights into Roman society and craftsmanship in ancient London.