Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a 2000-year-old Roman villa during excavation work on the Frans Robberechtsstraat in the Flemish Brabant municipality of Wemmel. On Tuesday morning the Flemish Heritage Minister Ben Weyts (nationalist, photo above right) visited the site to inspect the excavation work.
The Roman villa was discovered on the site of what were stables on the Frans Robberechtsstraat in Wemmel. Around 50 new homes are to be constructed there. The archeologists unearthed the remains of what was entire Roman villa estate
A rare find
The remains of several Roman villas have been discovered in Flanders in the past. However, finding the remains of a fully preserved villa estate is very rare. The find allows archaeologists to conduct research not only on the foundations of the villa itself, but also on all the outbuildings that were part of the estate.
The archaeologists working at the site say that what has been found offers a “unique insight” into daily life on a Roman villa estate.
Portico villa
The villa in Wemmel was approximately 30 metres by 14 metres. It is what is known as a portico villa. Portico villas had a large hall with a wide colonnade, a portico, at the front. Numerous artifacts have also been found at the site.
They include stamped and rough-walled pottery, amphorae and several cloak pins. The archaeologists will continue their excavation work for a few more weeks.