A Roman mosaic has been found buried beneath a vape shop – sparking a ‘hunt’ for more lost treasures beneath the streets of Colchester.
The ornate design was originally discovered in the 1980s when services were being installed for the Lion Walk shopping centre.
But for an unknown reason it was decided the historical treasure should remain hidden to the people of Colchester, and it was promptly covered over.
A project to permanently uncover the mosaic and display it beneath glass is now under way, and due to be completed by the end of this summer.
It comes after Colchester, the former capital of Roman Britain, gained city status last year.
Martin Leatherdale, centre manager of Lion Walk shopping centre, said that displaying the tile art would help promote the city’s Roman heritage.
The initial dig is outside a vape shop but Mr Leatherdale said they will be ‘expanding the hunt’.
‘We’re uncovering what’s already been found and we’re also exploring further than that,’ he said.
‘The amount of traffic and inquiries and engagement that it gets is just off the scale.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s definitely an appetite out there for it.’
He said the first stage of investigative works is to ‘fully understand how much remaining mosaic is underground’.
There will be secondary work to look at the ‘moisture content of the ground, which needs to be scientifically considered for the encapsulation’, he added.
Philip Crummy, director of Colchester Archaeological Trust, said: ‘The exposing permanently of part of a decorated Roman mosaic in Colchester is a fantastic idea.
‘Over 40 mosaics have been recorded over the past two centuries in Colchester.
‘I am fairly sure there are more mosaics in Colchester than any other Roman town in Britain.
‘Coloured mosaics are something that people associate with Romans and Colchester is not well enough known for its Roman heritage as it ought to be.’
In January a crypt was discovered beneath a vape shop in Maidstone, Kent.
The shop manager Sam Jesspop had no clue what lay under his e-cigarette store Evapo.
He was shocked to discover a vast long-forgotten stone chamber, which is believed to date back to the early 14th century.
The find has unlocked a hidden world of underground tunnels and vaults beneath an historic market town.
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