LONDON.- One of the most significant
archaeological projects of recent times – a reconstruction of the great Orpheus
pavement – is to be sold by Chorley’s on Thursday, 24th June 2010. Made from 1.6
million pieces of small, hand-cut clay blocks called tesserae, the 2,200 square
foot (205 square metre) mosaic took 10 years for brothers Bob and John Woodward
to complete. The Roman period was one of great prosperity for Britain and
Gloucestershire was no exception. Large settlements were developed around
Gloucester and Cirencester and the wealthy built great villas nearby. The villa
at Woodchester near Stroud must have belonged to somebody of great wealth and
influence and of the 60 rooms, some 20 had mosaic floors including the large
hall which contained the Great Orpheus pavement.