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Archaeologists working in south London have uncovered a first-of-its-kind Roman mausoleum, the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) said.

A video reconstruction shows what archaeologists believe the mausoleum looked like in Roman times.

The discovery at the Liberty of Southwark dig site includes the walls, interior mosaic flooring, and lower stairs from the mausoleum.

The level of preservation of the interior makes it the most intact Roman mausoleum ever to be discovered in Britain, MOLA said.

Previous dig work at the site in February 2022 unearthed some of the largest Roman mosaics found in London for over 50 years, MOLA said.

MOLA senior archaeologist Antonietta Lerz said: “This relatively small site in Southwark is a microcosm for the changing fortunes of Roman London – from the early phase of the site where London expands and the area has lavishly decorated Roman buildings, all the way through to the later Roman period when the settlement shrinks and it becomes a more quiet space where people remember their dead. It provides a fascinating window into the living conditions and lifestyle in this part of the city in the Roman period.”

Landsec and Transport for London are working together on the mixed-use Liberty of Southwark development and are committed to restoring and retaining the mausoleum within for public enjoyment, MOLA said. Credit: Museum of London Archaeology via Storyful