Black and white

Acc.no: PEZPH : 2016.50.974

Identification

Item: Excavations at Magor Farm, 1931

Description: Roman villa near Camborne. These photographs were taken by Herbert Gibson in 1931 and are part of a series 2016.50.952 to 2016.50.976. The farmer who owned the land, Mr Benjamin Mitchell, had earlier that year found some tesserae while ploughing and made enquiries. These soon led to the British Museum confirming that the tiles were "almost certainly Roman". A decision was taken to excavate the site, funds were raised and after harvest that year the archaeologists moved in. They worked from 8 September to 3 October 1931. The was then opened to the public for one week before it was again covered in soil to protect it from weather damage. Some denarii coins found help to date the supposed abandonment of the villa to about AD 230-240. Thus a suggested date of 2nd or 3rd century is given for its origins. This photograph shows a close-up of a plastered wall. In some rooms remnants of plaster remain. One room in particular had fragments of plaster that suggested an elaborate floral design was once on the wall. Colours still visible included crimson, blue-green, brown, pale green and orange. Parts of the design included tulips and lotus flowers and may possibly have been used as a dining room. (Reference especially B.H.St J O'Neil: The Roman Villa at Magor Farm).

Condition: Good

Description

Material: Photographic paper

Production

Method: Printed

Category: Photography

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