Archaeologists are quite excited over the discovery of what might be a complex of buildings, including a "pagan" Roman temple, a nymphaeum and a villa in Notts. It is only the second "pagan" Roman temple to be found in the area and the first in 40+ years. Ursilla Spence, senior archaeological officer dixit:

"This is a monumental discovery. I have never seen Roman archaeology looking like that in Notts.

"It is starting to re-write our understanding of Notts in the Roman period.

"You don't expect to see a wall of this masonry. It looks as if it could be a pagan Roman temple. Not only are they using these huge blocks but they were using smooth faces. It is very much a grand building.

"We certainly were not expecting anything like this.

"We had nothing to say it was there. To us it is new and very exciting."

"We think it's a whole complex. We have got most of the elements. I am expecting another structure to turn up this week."

Bryn Walters, director and secretary of the Association for Roman Archeology, added:

"This could change the way the history [of Southwell] is looked at.

"It is interesting that there might be something else and has not been found yet.

"If there is a temple, there is going to be something else not far away."

Roman temple unearthed in Notts (Evening Post)

Remains of Roman temple unearthed in Nottinghamshire (London News)

Adrian Murdoch has links to previous coverage over at Bread and Circuses:

Roman temple at Southwell, Notts

I just noticed amongst my mixed up inbox that John Lock sent me notice of the excavators' website as well:

Southwell Archaeology- the site of Southwell Community Archaeology Group (SCAG)

... along with a note:

Members of Southwell Community Archaeology Group [SCAG] and the wider community are absolutely delighted that these finds are of such great significance. The challenge is to continue to insist on a full site investigation and then a visionary way forward to fully promote and preserve the site in perpetuity. In particular we are strongly promoting the case for totally excluding from any development the western strip, part of which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and taking that part into public ownership as a continuation of a "green finger" through Southwell.