Glimpses into lives of Roman suburbanites in Bath revealed in rare finds

A Roman bone pin, an accessory crafted from animal bone often used as a hairpin or a dress fastener, was among the finds discovered at Bath Assembly Rooms. Photograph: James Beck/National Trust Images/James Beck

The restoration of a Georgian building in Bath once frequented by Jane Austen has unexpectedly provided a tantalising glimpse into the life of the city’s Roman suburbanites.

A network of Roman ditches containing pottery, coins, glassware and a fragment of a military helmet has been found beneath Bath Assembly Rooms in the north of the city.