Fund in Great Britain - Roman culture even without an empire - how the decline of the empire was delayed
In many parts of Europe, the withdrawal of the Roman legions towards the end of the empire was accompanied by a rapid decline. This can be seen from the shards in the ground. In Roman times, things were always broken, so broken remains can be found. Then came the conquerors and a high density of shards was found - the proverbial elephant raged in the china store. Then the shards suddenly stop being found, because these goods are no longer made anew.
But in addition to the regions where the empire ended so abruptly, there are areas where Roman culture persisted after the end of Rome's rule - only to slowly come to an end. In Gloucestershire, England, a mosaic from the fifth century has now been found that adorned a Roman villa there. The special thing about it: Around 400, the Romans had actually given up on the British Isles.
Britain as an outpost
After the Rhine border fell in 406 and Gaul was lost, the island was cut off. Roman Britain was in decline. The change came abruptly, around 350 there are still signs of great prosperity, only 50 years later the Roman troops flee the island, 400 years after the conquest by Vespasian. After 407 there are hardly any Roman coins left. It almost seems as if the Romans had taken everything precious with them. Historians thought that the early Britons had abandoned the Roman villas and population centers after the collapse of the imperial administrative system. Thus began a period that became known as the Dark Ages.
"It has been suggested that most of the population turned to subsistence farming to sustain themselves," says Martin Papworth, an archaeologist with the British National Trust. "The exciting thing about the dating of this mosaic at Chedworth is that it is evidence of a gradual decline. The creation of a new room and the laying of a new floor indicate prosperity and a mosaic industry that continued 50 years later than thought."
The decline of craftsmanship
The mosaic was discovered in 2017, but has only now been definitively dated. Compared to the fourth-century mosaics found in the same villa and elsewhere in Britain, a decline in quality is evident. The skills of the craftsmen clearly deteriorated. The end of Roman rule also meant the end of the money economy in England. Work and services were no longer paid for with a currency. This also marked the end of the empire's highly labor-intensive economy.
However, despite some errors, the mosaic is a complex work of art. An outer border of circles is filled with flowers and knots.
Papworth said that this find shows a relatively slower decline in the lifestyle of the wealthy elite rich in the southwest of England. Compared to the north and east, for example, where rich country estates were quickly plundered and destroyed in raids, a summer dining room had still been made here in the mid-fifth century.
Estate in a prime location
The villa was built shortly after the Roman conquest in 120 and then continuously expanded over 300 years. This is a very fertile region. The remains of 50 Roman country estates can be found in the surrounding area. It can be assumed that the conquerors secured the fertile area and introduced the Roman form of agriculture there.
For most people, life in a villa did not mean a meal in rooms decorated with mosaics, but slavery. The system of villas was based on this.
After 300 years, the owners did not want to give up the villa and the associated estate. Especially as there were fewer and fewer "safe" zones in the empire. An escape would only have made sense if the same family had also owned large estates in the shrinking territory.
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Despite the decline of the Roman Empire in mainland Europe, Roman culture persisted in certain regions, such as Gloucestershire, England. This is evidenced by the discovery of a fifth-century mosaic that adorned a Roman villa in the area, despite the Romans having effectively abandoned Britain around 400.
England, or Roman Britain, was experiencing a decline after the fall of the Rhine border in 406 and the loss of Gaul. The change was abrupt, with signs of great prosperity dwindling 50 years later, leading to the Roman troops fleeing the island.
The decline in craftsmanship was also evident in England during this period. The skills of the craftsmen responsible for creating mosaics, for instance, deteriorated, as the end of the Roman rule marked the end of the money economy and highly labor-intensive economy.
The discovery of a mosaic in Chedworth, Gloucestershire, in 2017, however, suggested a relatively slower decline in the lifestyle of the wealthy elite in the southwest of England. Compared to other parts of the country, where rich country estates were plundered and destroyed, a summer dining room was still being constructed in the mid-fifth century.
This shows that despite the decline of the Roman Empire, some regions in Britain, such as Gloucestershire, maintained elements of Roman culture and prosperity, albeit at a slower pace.
Source: www.stern.de
