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1,800-year-old Roman statue discovered in parking lot

1,800-year-old Roman statue discovered in parking lot

March 20, 2024

Peterborough, England - A remarkable historical discovery was made during construction works at Burghley House, a 16th-century country estate in England. Construction worker Greg Crawley unearthed the marble head of a Roman statue believed to be nearly 2,000 years old.

1,800-year-old Roman statue discovered in parking lot

1,800-year-old Roman Statue

The initial discovery of the head in 2023 was followed by the unearthing of a matching bust two weeks later near the original find site.  Conservators meticulously cleaned, examined, and reassembled the fragments, dating the sculpture to the 1st or 2nd century AD.

A Period of Amassing a Significant Art Collection

Intriguingly, the statue exhibits an iron dowel, a modification historically employed by 18th-century Italian antiquity dealers to facilitate attachment to a bust or pedestal for aristocratic clientele on the Grand Tour.

1,800-year-old Roman statue discovered in parking lot

"We believe the statue may have been acquired by Brownlow Cecil, the 9th Earl of Exeter, during his travels to Italy in the 1760s, a period when he amassed a significant art collection," Burghley House stated. The Earl, known for his avid travel and passion for art collecting, inherited the title in 1754.

A Thrilling Experience

The mystery surrounding the statue's presence in the car park remains unsolved. Burghley House acknowledges the lack of clarity, suggesting possibilities ranging from a botched theft attempt to accidental discardment, followed by gradual soil cover.

1,800-year-old Roman statue discovered in parking lot

For excavator driver Greg Crawley, the discovery was a thrilling experience. "Unearthing something this old and special was an amazing feeling," he shared in a statement. "It was a real shock to see a face emerge from what I thought was just a big stone!"

The restored Roman statue will be exhibited at Burghley House alongside other sculptures collected by the 9th Earl, offering visitors a glimpse into the estate's rich history and this remarkable archaeological find.