Villa rustica of Sparsholt, Roman agricultural estate in Sparsholt, United Kingdom.
Villa rustica of Sparsholt is a Roman agricultural estate comprising multiple buildings arranged around a central courtyard, with the main residential structure on the western side. The layout followed the typical Roman pattern for rural properties, with space for storage and work buildings arranged around the courtyard.
Archaeological excavations between 1965 and 1972 revealed multiple construction phases ranging from a simple farmhouse in the 2nd century to an expanded estate. The development shows how Roman settlers enlarged and improved their properties over generations.
The residential building displayed intricate geometric mosaics and wall paintings featuring detailed human figures from the fourth century. This decoration reflects the wealth of the residents and their connection to Roman artistic traditions.
The original site remains buried underground, but visitors can explore a reconstructed section of the villa at Butser Ancient Farm museum. The museum provides a hands-on look at how people lived during Roman times in Britain.
The villa had a hypocaust heating system, which used hot air circulating beneath the floors. This advanced engineering shows how Roman residents adapted to Britain's cold climate.
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