Excavations at Smallhythe Place in England’s Kent have revealed both a medieval shipbuilding site and an earlier Roman settlement. With only ten Mercury figurines having been known till date, archaeologists have been further excited. The 2,000-year-old head, along with other finds, indicate that a Roman settlement stood at this spot between the 1st and 3rd centuries. National Trust archaeologist Nathalie Cohen said, "To come across a head of a figurine of Mercury, in pipeclay, is incredibly rare. Archaeological investigations conducted in the 1990s uncovered evidence of a medieval shipyard in Small Hythe, which was believed to have been visited by King Henry V.Top image: Mercury figurine was discovered in Kent, England and dates back 2,000 years.

Source: The Guardian February 26, 2024 16:49 UTC