Volunteers from across Wiltshire were asked to return to the Garson's Field Roman villa in August. Teffont Archaeology started their four-week excavation at Chalke Valley.
A Widespread Fascination with Rome
You may think it a difficult sell to ask so many people to congregate in one place for a day of what is essentially unpaid labour. However, the broader cultural fascination with Britain's Roman history, and ancient history in general, cannot be understated, and volunteers are never too hard to come by in the pursuit of a good dig.
To give an idea of the scope of interest, television shows like Spartacus and House of Ashur have experienced monumental streaming success. Then there's Those About to Die, a gritty drama directed by Roland Emmerich which explores the ancient world of chariot racing.
Music acts like Warkings and Ex Deo have both explored Roman history in their songs to major success. Then there's the online bingo sites UK players have increasingly turned to for entertainment, which offer several mythically inspired games that draw directly from ancient deities. Age of the Gods Gold Trio is one example. The title features three Greek goddesses, and as the Romans adopted much of their inspiration from Greek traditions, it shows how widespread the influence has been, not just in the modern day, but throughout history.
The team behind the dig therefore have good reason to feel confident that it will proceed smoothly with the public. The archeological project to uncover the Roman villa is being led by Dr David Roberts. He’s working alongside Dr Denise Wilding from Teffont Archaeology. Their aim is to excavate the dining area, internal spaces and outbuildings. Archeologists suspect that a Roman swimming pool is present.
The first excavation began in 2024. A team of archaeologists and 60 volunteers uncovered a Roman villa, which measured 35 metres long. It housed complex columns, mosaics and a separate bath house.
The discovery came to light when metal detectorists from Wiltshire reported a number of finds through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Investigations found evidence of a building. Cranborne Chase National Landscape funded the excavation.
A Fascinating Find in Wiltshire
Dr Wilding has released a statement saying the painted plaster walls and the base of a column are amongst some of the recent finds. The bath house is home to a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system synonymous with ancient Rome.
The 2026 excavation aims to find out more about the existing finds, while uncovering more information about how the owners lived. Two mosaics were found in 2024. Brooches, pottery, animal bones and plant remains have been uncovered since. Even though the findings aren’t as significant, they do give insight into what crops were grown locally, and what animals were farmed at the villa.
125 individuals have volunteered, which correlates to 314 excavation dates and 200 post-excavation dates. The training programme was a success. The dig training scheme scored 9.44 out of 10 by participants, and resulted in a greater appreciation for the local area.
Numerous talks and open day tours took place in August. More talks are expected as finds are uncovered. Donations are welcome, and are being encouraged by the Wiltshire Museum. Donations will help more resources be assigned, and also fund new training opportunities.
The Wiltshire-based museum is home to a number of significant finds. The museum currently houses a £500,000 gallery with treasures that date back to Stonehenge. Visitors can also find out how Devizes has connections that go back to the Norman era, while hearing the story of the Moonraker legend.
The museum will be updating people with its latest archeological findings in due course, and donations can be made to the effort online.
