Archaeologists working on farmland between the villages of Halberton and Sampford Peverell in Devon have uncovered a striking mosaic floor from a fourth-century Roman villa, along with an elaborate bathhouse that suggests the site once belonged to a family of considerable wealth. The discovery is the latest breakthrough from the Saving Halberton's Ancient Roman Environment project, known as SHARE, a joint effort between the University of Exeter and Cotswold Archaeology. Roman villas remain extremely rare finds in Devon, with only a small number ever confirmed through excavation, which makes this particular site an important addition to understanding how deeply Roman influence had spread into southwest Britain by this period. Researchers hope future excavation seasons at the site may reveal additional structures nearby, since villas of this scale often included outbuildings, gardens or workshops that have not yet been located beneath the surrounding farmland.
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