Wall plaster
From Silchester - Roman
Painted wall plaster from Silchester
Fragments of wall plaster were found at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum, near Silchester in Hampshire. This elaborate ornamentation shows how colourfully some buildings were decorated inside. Painted walls, mosaic floors and hypocaust systems are expensive building features that suggest Silchester had some wealthy inhabitants. The paint would be applied to the fresh lime plaster to fix the design to the plaster.
The town was excavated by Rev J. G. Joyce, who worked on the site from 1864 to 1878, and continued by the Society of Antiquaries, who uncovered the town between 1890 and 1909.
Museum object number