The Story of the Rudston Mosaics
The Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire, first came to light in 1838 when walls, roofing tiles, wall plaster and the remains of a mosaic floor were found by farm workers. Unfortunately most of the pavement was destroyed by the same workers -- they dug it up in the hope of finding treasure! #SUBHEADING#Unusual harvest#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1933, the owner and farmer of the land Mr. H. Robson hit the Venus Mosaic while ploughing to the south of the Kilham-Rudston road. Over the next few months he found and exposed the Swastika Mosaic and Aquatic Mosaic that paved other rooms in the building. Mr. Robson built a shed over the mosaics and opened it to the public. Unfortunately by the early 1960's it was clear that the mosaics could no longer stay in the ground. Frost damage was having a serious effect on all three mosaics and the exposed chalk walls were quickly deteriorating. It was agreed that the mosaics should be lifted and removed to Hull Museums. They have been on display in the Hull and East Riding Museum since 1963. You can learn more about how the mosaics were lifted by clicking here (Lifting Mosaics). The building found by Mr. Robson has been subsequently named 'Building 1'. In the 4th century it consisted of three ranges of buildings round a courtyard. Those on the eastern side contained domestic quarters and a bath-suite. This was where the three mosaics, the Venus, Aquatic and Swastika mosaics, were found. The other two sides of the courtyard contained farm buildings and workshops. #SUBHEADING#A long history#SUBHEADINGEND# This was not the first building on the site. Pre-dating the 4th century building were ranges of stone-built structures dating to earlier in the Roman period, and before that there had been circular huts and linear ditches from late Iron Age. So what had been a native Iron Age farm had been transformed during the years of the Roman occupation into a large prosperous villa. By the late 3rd or early 4th century this was successful enough for the owners to be able to equip it with hypocausts (under-floor heating) and expensive mosaics. #SUBHEADING#Not more mosaics!#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1971 a trial excavation was carried out to the north of the Kilham - Rudston road in the hope of finds more outbuildings connected with Building 1. What the team found was far more exciting. The new building is known as Building 8 and contained The Charioteer Mosaic (and its accompanying Leopards Panel) along with two other mosaics, one of which had been badly damaged by 19th century pipe-laying. The number of fine mosaics and wall-plaster in these two buildings makes Rudston one of the very best equipped villas known in the north of England.
Celtic Gold
This narrative describes the use of coins in Iron Age East Yorkshire and the surrounding area.
History of the Hull & East Riding Museum
This narrative tells the story of the Hull and East Riding Museum which is located in what is now known as Hull's Museum Quarter.
The Skerne Sword
The Skerne sword is an unusually fine example of a pattern-welded sword with decorated handle dating to the 10th century AD - the Viking period. It was found during excavations of a waterlogged site at Skerne, near Driffield, East Yorkshire in 1982 by the Humberside Archaeology Unit. It had been dropped, complete with its wooden scabbard, into the River Hull from a jetty or bridge.
The Brantingham Geometric Mosaics
The Roman villa at Brantingham, 3km northwest of Brough in East Yorkshire, was first discovered in 1941 when two geometric mosaics were found in a stone quarry known as the 'Cockle Pits'. They were recorded and then reburied. What followed is one of the biggest mysteries in Yorkshire archaeology.
The Brantingham Tyche Mosaic
The so-called 'Tyche Mosaic' was discovered in 1961at the site of a large villa near Brantingham, about 3km northwest of Brough in East Yorkshire.The mosaic features a distinctive figure at the centre wearing a crown and surrounded by a nimbus or halo. Some experts believe this figure is a 'Tyche' (pronounced tie-key), a personification of a province or tribe, and this has given the mosaic its name.
The Leopards Panel
The so-called 'Leopards Panel' was found in 1971 at the 4th century Roman villa at Rudston, East Yorkshire. It formed the floor of a threshold into the room of the Charioteer Mosaic and may have been placed under an archway. Like its neighbour it dates to between about 325 and 350 AD.
The Horkstow Mosaic
The Horkstow Mosaic is one of the largest and most interesting mosaics ever found in Britain. It was uncovered in 1797 by labourers making a kitchen garden at Horkstow Hall in Lincolnshire and would have graced a large hall at a very wealthy and sophisticated 4th century Roman villa.
The Rudston Aquatic Mosaic
The Aquatic Mosaic paved the 'apodytherium' or changing room of the bath-house at the Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It was discovered in 1933 together with the Venus Mosaic and the Swastika Mosaic.
The Rudston Charioteer Mosaic
The Charioteer Mosaic is one of the most striking and unusual mosaics to have been found so far in Roman Britain. Named after the central figure standing on a 'quadriga' or four-horse chariot, it paved a large room at a 4th century AD villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It is thought to have been laid between about 325 and 350 AD.
The Rudston Swastika Mosaic
This remarkably complete mosaic is known as the Swastika or Geometric Mosaic and was found in 1933 at the Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. It came from the central room of the same house as the Venus and Aquatic Mosaics which are also displayed at the Hull and East Riding Museum. The mosaic measures 2.75m square and dates to the later 3rd century AD, the same date as the Venus Mosaic.
The Rudston Venus mosaic
The Venus Mosaic came from the largest room in the first house built at a Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire. The intact mosaic with its oblong side-panels would have measured 4.67m x 3.2m. It dates to the later 3rd century AD.
The Story of the Horkstow Mosaic
This famous mosaic was found in 1797 by labourers preparing a kitchen garden at Horkstow Hall, Lincolnshire. Unfortunately they destroyed large areas of it before realising the importance of what they had unearthed - a mosaic floor belonging to great hall of a large and wealthy villa.
The Story of the Rudston Mosaics
The Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire, first came to light in 1838 when walls, roofing tiles, wall plaster and the remains of a mosaic floor were found by farm workers. Unfortunately most of the pavement was destroyed by the same workers - they dug it up in the hope of finding treasure!
