To: Michael Bidnall (MoL)

From: research[at]historiclindsey.org.uk

Missed call

Dr Bidnall,

Sorry I missed your call – site meeting overran. Your cryptic voicemail intrigued me, I'm flattered the Museum of London want my opinion! Popping into another meeting now, will call after.

Kind regards,

Dr Charlotte Miller

Assistant Director of Research

Historic Lindsey

*****

To: Michael Bidnall (MoL)

From: Charlotte Miller

Islington Mosaic

Hi Mike,

Thanks for ringing back - good to chat. Sorry, it's been one of those days here.

To confirm, I've booked the train for Wednesday. I'll see you at King's Cross at 9.25am.

Very exciting, if your hunch is right!

Best wishes,

Charlotte

*****

To: Michael Bidnall (MoL)

From: Charlotte Miller

Islington Mosaic – site visit notes

Hi Mike,

Great to meet you yesterday. Thanks so much for involving me, it's unbelievably exciting.

Thanks also for the effusive introduction to Ms Hudson (even if it did make me blush): pretty sure she'd not have believed the random young female academic had anything to contribute if you hadn't persuaded her. (Not that she's much older, or isn't professionally successful herself. Sexism from other women does irritate me. Anyway, sorry. Fancy a job as my publicist...?!)

Agree with your scepticism about the lack of later accretions and the relative shallowness of the find, but I'm no archaeologist so defer to you. You'd think something would've turned up when they put the Northern Line in to Angel? If Simone Hudson's renovation work has meant she's gone deeper into the cellars than is probably the case for some time, and that lower floor the workmen went through is indeed as old as you think...

Still a long shot though. (I'm being cautious, because it's so incredible, if valid.)

Please find attached my very quick write-up of the visit. Bibliography and full assessment to follow over the weekend. As discussed, I'll be down again next week Mon-Thurs, to raid the archives – I've arranged accommodation, but thanks for the offer.

After you'd gone, I spent the afternoon talking to Simone Hudson – so long, in fact, I missed my intended train! I can see why you think she's difficult – she's obviously used to getting her own way, and is clearly annoyed by the delay to her plans – but I think I got somewhere with her. She's persuaded of the potential significance of the find, on top of everything you've already said, and has agreed to put things on hold and keep quiet for now. (Although there's some complication with buying her ex out, and she's already mentioned it to them in passing, I gather. Not a huge issue?)

She wanted to know more than I could tell her about the archaeology, and pick your brains about intentions to excavate/leave in situ – she suggested the three of us have lunch there next Tuesday/Wednesday. Shall I confirm with her?

Best wishes,

Charlie

*

Initial Site Visit: Late ?C4th Roman Mosaic at [Address redacted], Islington, EC1V

At invitation of Dr Mike Bidnall, Museum of London, I visited property at above address, Wednesday 9th May: renovation work in the cellars has uncovered suspected Roman remains.

MoL's assessment:

-in relatively good condition, potentially of significant antiquity;

-workmanship of indifferent quality, possibly native;

-consist in an area of tessellated pavement (approx 4mx1.5m), assumed late fourth century;

-context, location and depth of find are surprising, as is absence of later layers.

MoL intend to carry out further research on the find to establish dating/contextualise the find as far as possible. Full excavation and/or exploration of neighbouring properties may not be possible.

Portion of tiling uncovered shows one complete figure and one two-thirds figure on a grey background. Simple main border of vine/rose between narrow geometric patterns. A small roundel bottom RH shows a sheep, and one incomplete roundel bottom LH shows a peacock (head missing).

Complete figure:

-male, standing

-clean-shaven

-tunic and cloak (white/yellow)

-winged feet

-staff in LH

-RH pointing to other figure

Incomplete figure (truncated by later wall):

-female, seated

-lower approx. two-thirds only visible (also, damaged?)

-red/ochre dress

Interrupted nature of find notwithstanding, we assume the room in which it featured was small.

Traditional interpretation: male figure is Mercury as messenger of the gods; female figure unidentifiable. Would suggest treasury/strong room? (Mercury as god of commerce.) Quasi-religious/gnostic significance also possible.

Caveat: Iconography is ambiguous – esp. sheep and peacock and nature of discourse with female figure. [See bibliography for debated nature of Christian symbolism]

Possible interpretation: male is Gabriel, female is Mary, ergo Annunciation [Luke 1:26-38]. Sheep, peacock and vine all accepted early Christian symbols, though often ambiguous.

Lack of Chi-Rho symbol disappointing. [See bibliography for Chi-Rho as standard of proof of Christianity in C3rd/4th]

If Christian:

-Earliest known example of Annunciation illustration in Britain - ergo, earliest Mary and Gabriel

-Earliest/only known use of Mercury archetype as angel ergo earliest British angel

-Earliest known specifically Christian sacred space in Britain? (Use of space to be determined. Chapel? Prayer room? Treasury of religious objects/relics? [See asterisked bibliography entries for research in this controversial area])

*****

Hi Simone,

Hope you like this notecard – it's of our little scene here, which we think is similar to yours and hopefully gives you an idea of why we're so excited (as I tried to explain yesterday).

Enclosed are photocopies of a couple of the articles I mentioned, and of the relevant chapters from my book Religious Iconography in Roman and Early Medieval Britain AD45-1066 (as you were so kindly interested).

Please don't feel you made me miss my train, I often can't stop when I get going on the subject. Your offer of food and a bed was very welcome, given I'd have been stuck otherwise.

It was also nice to get to know you. I hope you don't regret what happened afterwards...I don't at all. These things happen sometimes, after a glass or two of wine and a long day. I know things are awkward with your ex, but please don't assume I'm like her. Let's talk, and see how things go, next week when I'm in town, shall we?

Charlie xx