This film looks at the work of archaeologists at two Roman villa sites in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Title: Roman Villas at Rudston & Brantingham Title: Removal of the mosaic pavements. Title: by the Hull Museums 1962 Title: Rudston The film opens on two people at the Rudston site as they walk past an excavation. The camera shows a long metal roofed shed-like structure in the distance. On its roof the words ‘Roman Pavements’ have been added. This was probably built by the farmer who...

This film looks at the work of archaeologists at two Roman villa sites in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Title: Roman Villas at Rudston & Brantingham Title: Removal of the mosaic pavements. Title: by the Hull Museums 1962 Title: Rudston The film opens on two people at the Rudston site as they walk past an excavation. The camera shows a long metal roofed shed-like structure in the distance. On its roof the words ‘Roman Pavements’ have been added. This was probably built by the farmer who owned the land and discovered the Venus mosaic there in 1933. General views follow of undisturbed nearby fields, presumably all part of the Rudston site. Two archaeologists apply what appears to be a white sheet to an area of mosaic alongside the Venus mosaic. This is in preparation for the mosaic to be lifted and moved from its current location to Hull Museums service. The decision to move them was brought about to alleviate further frost damage. A liquid is poured onto the mosaic and the white material is spread over the treated area and rubbed down onto the tesserae. More liquid is poured on top of the material and a brush is used to make sure the soaked material is in full contact with the mosaic. A view shows an uncovered area of mosaic next to a treated area. Archaeologists use a watering can containing the special liquid and a brush to prepare the untreated mosaic. The white material is placed into position and treated with more liquid. A brief view shows another part of the Roman villa. Title: Brantingham An archaeologist working under a protective cover, treats a section of mosaic in a similar way to that seen at the villa at Rudston. Several assistants help place the white material onto the treated mosaic. The film then shows a section of untreated mosaic, the camera moves slowly upwards showing the location of the Roman mosaic in a remote farmer’s field with trees and other fields in the distance. An exterior view shows a tent like structure covering the excavation site. The tent covering uses transparent plastic sheeting. The film shows other parts of the excavated villa site, showing uncovered sections of mosaic floor. Archaeologists prepare another section of tiled floor using the white material. Brief views follow of other untreated mosaic flooring. An archaeologist places some metal sheets and other equipment at the open end of the covered excavation. Some of the equipment seems to be industrial heaters and he uses the metal sheets to deflect the heat from one heater onto a section of treated mosaic. Another archaeologist rolls what appears to be a section of large pipe across the field towards the covered site. A section of mosaic is wrapped around the pipe like structure seen earlier. A member of the work team brushes some loose earth off the lifted mosaic. The archaeologists continue to lift more of the mosaic, carefully prizing it from the earth. The team clean loose debris from the underside of the rescued mosaic. Eventually the whole mosaic is wrapped around the cylinder. Title: Unrolling a pavement at the museum. The film ends as, with lots of assistance and effort, a rescued mosaic is unrolled in its new home, then put into its final position for display within the museum.