Building boom revealing London’s ancient past

From Reuters: Building boom revealing London’s ancient past.

London’s building boom has given archaeologists an unexpected bonus — the city’s ancient past is being laid bare.

The latest piece of the historical jigsaw is most of the interior decor of a rich merchant’s dining room dating back to 120 AD when the Roman Emperor Hadrian ruled an Empire stretching from northern England to northern Africa.

The decorated plaster was discovered under the floor of an Italian delicatessen on the edge of Leadenhall Market which in turn is next to the site of what was the city’s Roman town hall.

One section of the green, blue and terracotta colored murals painted on plaster show a girl’s head, a bunch of grapes and candelabra. [continue]