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People gather in the rain as they admire the unearthing of the Roman mosaic. The mosaic was found in a field in the village two years ago but was then re-covered with soil to allow farmers to use the field
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A Roman mosaic depicting a mythical chariot race has been fully uncovered in a Berkshire village - and it could be one of Britain's most exciting archaeological discoveries.
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A close-up view of the intricate Roman mosaic. Volunteers who worked on the dig to uncover the masterpiece were mainly from the Boxford History Project
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The 1,600-year-old mosaic, which was found in Boxford in 2017 but only fully uncovered recently, is one of only three of its kind in the world and is 'totally unknown' in Britain, experts said.
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| Members of the public crowded in a field in Boxford, Berkshire, to admire the 1,600-year-old Roman mosaic named the Bellerophon Mosaic. The finding depicts a chariot race involving Greek mythological figure Pelops, who is racing to win the hand of love interest Princess Hippodamia
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It depicts a chariot race involving Greek mythological figure Pelops, who is racing to win the hand of love interest Princess Hippodamia.
Archaeologist Matt Nichol, who worked on the dig, said the imagery and iconography on the mosaic, which is six metres long, was 'second to none'.
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| The public gathers around the square plot in the middle of the field. The prospect of removing the mosaic and putting it in a museum has been ruled out
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He said: 'There's a real buzz and excitement on this project, I've never seen that before on any project that I've worked on.'
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People gather in the small field in Berkshire as the magnificent Roman mosaic is unearthed to reveal its hidden beauty
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Those who worked on the dig were mainly volunteers from the Boxford History Project.
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| The mosaic was found in a field in the village two years ago but was then re-covered with soil to allow farmers to use the field
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The mosaic was found in a field in the village two years ago but was then re-covered with soil to allow farmers to use the field.
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| Archaeologist Matt Nichol, who worked on the dig, said the imagery and iconography on the mosaic, which is six metres long, was 'second to none'. Above: The mosaic in 2017, when it was first uncovered
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Joy Appleton, the group's chairman, told MailOnline: 'In 10 days only, the volunteers managed to clear the entire mosaic area.
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| A Roman mosaic depicting a mythical chariot race has been fully uncovered in a Berkshire village - and it could be one of Britain's most exciting archaeological discoveries
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'We have a passion for understanding our heritage and this is totally unknown in Britain. It is a rare thing.'
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| Members of the public and volunteers speak about the amazing finding which has created a buzz in Boxford, Berkshire
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On Saturday, the group held an open day for members of the public to view the find and Ms Appleton said there had been more interest than she expected.
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| The find - named the Bellerophon Mosaic after one of the depicted figures - mainly depicts a chariot race involving Greek mythological figure Pelops, a grandson of Zeus, the king of the gods. He is racing to win the the hand of love interest Princess Hippodamia. Above: Volunteers from the Boxford History Project survey their work
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'We had nearly 3,000 people turn up,' she said.
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| The 1,600-year-old mosaic, which was found in Boxford in 2017 but only fully uncovered recently, is one of only three of its kind in the world |
'It is frightening in one sense. They must have come a long way from all over the country.'
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| Archaeologist Matt Nichol said: 'There's a real buzz and excitement on this project, I've never seen that before on any project that I've worked on'
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The mosaic will now be covered over once more to protect it and to allow farming to continue.
And the prospect of removing the mosaic and putting it in a museum has been ruled out.
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| Those who worked on the dig were mainly volunteers from the Boxford History Project (above: a volunteer at the site uncovers an artefact)
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'We have been told that there is no point removing it because it is too big for museums,' Ms Appleton said.
'The local community want to keep the mosaic where it is.'
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| Joy Appleton, the group's chairman, told MailOnline: 'In 10 days only, the volunteers managed to clear the entire mosaic area. 'We have a passion for understanding our heritage and this is totally unknown in Britain. It is a rare thing'. Above: Boxford History Project volunteers work on uncovering the mosaic
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'It would cost millions to open it up.'
Anthony Beeson, an expert on Greek and Roman architecture, explained the story depicted on the mosaic.
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| On Saturday, the group held an open day for members of the public to view the find and Ms Appleton said there had been more interest than she expected. 'We had nearly 3,000 people turn up,' she said. Above: A member of the team speaks to a local BBC reporter at the site
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Explaining the story depicted in the mosaic, Mr Beeson said: 'The pavement shows Bellerophon and Pegasus but the main action is the story of Pelops and his race to win the hand of the Princess Hippodamia.
'The king, Oenomaus, having been told that his future son-in-law would bring about his death, made all contestants race him in a chariot but handicapped them by putting the princess in the vehicle with them.
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| A volunteer working on the mosaic, which will now be covered again to allow farming to continue
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'The losers were decapitated and their heads displayed.
'Pelops persuaded a former lover Myrtilus and the King's chariot master to substitute a wax lynch pin and the king was killed when the wheels flew off.'
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| Two members of the team uncovering the Roman mosaic explain to the public who have come to see the 1,600-year-old mosaic
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'Pelops thereby won but killed Myrtilus who cursed his lineage and brought about the curse of the Pelops.
'The king's funerary games are said to be the origin of the Olympics.'
