Beadlam Roman villa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beadlam Roman villa |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Romano-British Villa |
| Location | Beadlam, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 54°14′55″N 1°01′41″W / 54.24861°N 1.02806°W |
| Construction started | Third century |
| Demolished | Fifth century |
Beadlam Roman villa is an ancient Roman country house located in North Yorkshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Riccal, between the town of Helmsley and the village of Beadlam. This site is a special protected area, known as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It holds the remains of a large Romano-British farm that was built around the 200s AD and used until the 400s AD.
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Discovering the Roman Villa
The Beadlam Roman villa was first found in 1928. During this time, people discovered pieces of Roman tiles, pottery, and small colored stones called tesserae. These tesserae are the tiny pieces used to make beautiful mosaic floors.
Digging Up the Past
More digging, also known as excavation, happened in 1966. This is when archaeologists found a mosaic pavement in a building on the northern part of the site. The land where the villa was found was later bought by English Heritage, an organization that protects historical places.
Even more detailed excavations took place in 1969, 1972, and 1978. These digs uncovered the remains of several buildings. These buildings were arranged to form three sides of a courtyard, much like a modern farm complex.
What Was a Roman Villa?
A Roman villa was not just one building. It was usually a large country estate or farm. These villas often had a main house for the owner and their family. They also had other buildings for farm workers, animals, and storing crops.
Life in Roman Britain
The Beadlam Roman villa was a Romano-British villa. This means it was built and used during the time when the Romans ruled Britain. People living in these villas often adopted Roman ways of life, like building houses with underfloor heating and decorating with mosaics.
What You Can See Today
Today, you can still see parts of the Beadlam Roman villa. The walls of one building are still visible in situ, which means they are in their original place. Another building can be seen as an earthwork, which is a mound or ditch that shows where a structure once stood. These remains give us clues about how people lived in Roman times.
