A farmhouse owner has been left stunned after he discovered a “well-preserved” luxury Roman villa by chance as he worked on a barn conversion in his garden.
Luke Irwin unearthed the high-quality villa, which has been described as a significant discovery, at his Wiltshire home as he laid electric cables.
Archaeological experts were drafted in to inspect the site which led to an eight-day dig by Historic England and Salisbury Museum.
And it was later revealed to be the former home of a wealthy family in what could be the largest villa of its kind in the country.
Coins, brooches, bones of animals including a suckling pig, wild animals which had been hunted and a Roman well were also turned up in the dig.
Experts said the villa was built sometime between 175 AD and 220 AD and was repeatedly remodeled up to the mid-TH century AD.
Of his discovery, Mr Irwin said: "I was overwhelmed by the realization that someone's lived on this site for 2,000 years.
"You look out at an empty field from your front door, and yet 1,500 years ago there was the biggest house, possibly, in all of Britain."
Dr David Roberts, Historic England archaeologist, added: “This site has not been touched since its collapse 1,400 years ago and, as such, is of enormous importance.
“Without question, this is a hugely valuable site in terms of research, with incredible potential.
"The discovery of such an elaborate and extraordinarily well-preserved villa, undamaged by agriculture for over 1,500 years, is unparalleled in recent years."
