An ancient “Roman head” found near a British manor will be put on public display for the first time on Saturday.
The treasure was discovered in late 2023 by Greg Crawley, an excavator driver who was working in the mansion’s parking lot when he found it.
“It was a real surprise when the excavator bucket passed over what I thought was a large stone revealing a face. When I got it I realized it was the head of a statue” Greg told Burghley’s official website.
And he added: “I couldn’t believe it when they told me it was a Roman marble statue. It was an incredible feeling to have found something so ancient and special; definitely my best discovery.”
The marble head
The marble head is that of a Roman lady and dates back, according to specialists, to the 1st or 2nd century AD
Furthermore, two weeks later they also found the bust of the statue near the place where the head was buried. To display both pieces an iron peg was added to keep them upright.
The marble head dates back to the 1st or 2nd century AD Photo: Burghley HouseThe head is believed to have arrived from Italy around 1760 and, although it is claimed that it was brought to the country on “ninth earl”, it is not yet known how it specifically arrived at the Burghley courtyard. The theories are the craziest: They range from failed robbery to discarding with burial included.
The exhibition
The head and bust will go on display inside Burghley’s Staircase to Hell on March 16 when the 2024 season opens. The antiquity will be accompanied by an explanation of its discovery.
As the Burghley website describes, the manor house where the pieces were found “is one of the largest and grandest survivors of the 16th century and a wonderful example of the great Elizabethan wonder houses built in honor of the Queen.”
Greg with his strange discovery. Photo: Burghley HouseWilliam CecilLord High Treasurer of Queen Elizabeth I, conceived and built it between 1555 and 1587. “Burghley is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the early Elizabethan era”, we read on the website portal.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.