In 'Utterly Astounding Finds' Archaeologists Unearth a Rare Female Roman Statue and Other Artifacts in an Old Church

Archaeologists involved with the HS2 project unearthed several Roman statues and artifacts while excavating in the U.K. The discovery happened inside a Norman Church in Stoke Mandeville, according to HS2. Researchers located a circular ditch inside the church, and deep into it spotted three stone busts, that by design appeared to be of Roman origins. Along with the busts, archaeologists collected several Roman-era artifacts from the site. 

The site where these discoveries happened was identified to be St. Mary's Norman Church. Researchers were in the last stages of their site exploration when they dug inside the ditch surrounded by what they assumed to be the foundations of an Anglo-Saxon tower. They found three stone busts from the ditch. Two busts comprised of a head and torso, which appeared to have been separated by deposition. The third one just had a head. The disfiguration observed on these busts was not shocking to experts, as evidence from the Norman times indicates that statues were vandalized in some way before being torn down. After analyzing the busts, researchers concluded they had two complete Roman statues, one of a man and another of a woman. The additional head resembled a child's face, as per experts.

Researchers located a well-preserved hexagonal glass Roman jug from the site. Archaeologists were astounded to find that despite being in the ground for around 1,000 years, the glass jug had several pieces intact. The team believes they have in their custody all the fragments of the jug. Other items spotted here by experts include Roman cremation urns, large roof tiles, and painted wall plaster.

Archaeologists were elated with these discoveries, because of their exceptional condition and the secrets they held regarding the past. "For us to end the dig with these utterly astounding finds is beyond exciting. The statues are exceptionally well preserved, and you really get an impression of the people they depict – literally looking into the faces of the past is a unique experience. Of course, it leads us to wonder what else might be buried beneath England’s medieval village churches," Dr Rachel Wood, Lead Archaeologist, associated with the site shared. "This has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime site and we are all looking forward to hearing what more the specialists can tell us about these incredible statues and the history of the site before the construction of the Norman church.”

The excavation gave researchers valuable insights regarding the history of this structure. In the Bronze Age, the site started as a mound, that possibly served as a burial site. Thereafter it was replaced by a square building in the Roman period. Researchers claim that this was a mausoleum because the artifacts found at the site were ornate in design and less in number compared to a domestic settlement. After the Normans took over the region, they changed the site to St. Mary's Church. 

Mike Court, Lead Archaeologist at HS2 appreciated the program for unveiling so much about the country's history. "HS2’s unprecedented archaeology program has given us new insights into Britain’s history, providing evidence of where and how our ancestors lived. These extraordinary Roman statues are just some of the incredible artifacts uncovered between London and the West Midlands. As HS2 builds for Britain’s future, we are uncovering and learning about the past, leaving a legacy of knowledge and discovery," he said. HS2 is a project aiming to create a high-speed rail network throughout the U.K., amidst which it explores various historical sites to bring the country's unknown legacy to light.