By Sama Marwan ,
Archaeologists Reconstruct 2,000-Year-Old Roman Wall Paintings from Thousands of Fragments
Archaeologists have successfully reconstructed ancient Roman wall paintings dating back nearly 2,000 years using thousands of tiny fragments discovered during 2021 excavations in Southwark, London, near London Bridge and Borough Market, according to Greek Reporter.
This find is being described as one of the most significant discoveries in the history of Roman London. It marks the first time such a large and detailed collection of painted wall plaster has been pieced together in Britain.
In a project that spanned four years, specialists at the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) meticulously analyzed and reassembled what were once vibrant wall decorations from at least twenty rooms within an upscale Roman building. The fragments had been discarded into a pit after the building was demolished in the early third century.
The restored artwork, dating from between 40 and 150 AD, offers a rare glimpse into the tastes and lifestyles of wealthy residents of Roman Britain.
Researchers are reconstructing the Roman frescoes not only to preserve the art but to better understand how people lived, what they valued, and how they expressed their social status through interior design.
The wall paintings feature bold black borders framing bright yellow panels — a rare color choice in Roman décor. The scenes include intricate depictions of birds, fruits, flowers, and musical instruments, all pointing to artistic ambition and cultural sophistication. The scale and style of the work suggest the house belonged to a high-ranking family with refined taste and access to broad artistic trends from across the Roman Empire.
Han Li, MOLA’s lead building materials specialist, spent three months hand-sorting the fragments, comparing the task to solving “the world’s hardest jigsaw puzzle.” Many pieces were extremely fragile, and some originated from different rooms, making the reconstruction even more complex. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Li described the effort as “a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Among the most striking discoveries was a piece bearing the Latin word “fecit” (“made this”), inscribed inside a tabula ansata — a framed form used in Roman times to sign artwork. Though the artist’s name is missing, this is the first known example of a signed Roman wall painting found in Britain.
Another rare fragment contains graffiti written in ancient Greek script. Experts say the carefully engraved letters suggest the work of a skilled hand, ruling out the idea that it was mere practice writing. It remains the only known example of Greek graffiti on Roman wall plaster discovered in Britain.
As the team continues to document and interpret the pieces, the reconstructed murals offer a vivid window into a chapter of Roman London’s past that had remained buried — until now.
