"Pale Face Underground"... Roman-Era Statue Unearthed at British Construction Site

Discovered During Parking Lot Construction
Scheduled for Exhibition with Other Statues

A Roman-era statue dating back 1,800 years was discovered in the parking lot of Bugley House in the UK. This statue is scheduled to be displayed at Bugley House along with other statues.

A Roman-era statue dating back 1,800 years was discovered during the expansion of the parking lot at Bugley House in the UK. The photo shows the excavator operator holding the head of the statue.
[Image source=Bugley House]

On the 14th (local time), ABC News reported that last April, an excavator operator discovered the statue while expanding the parking lot at Bugley House in London, UK. Bugley House is a mansion built in the 1560s by Sir William Cecil, the Treasurer to Elizabeth I, who was granted the title 'Lord Bugley.' Bugley House officials stated that the excavator operator, Greg Crowley, found the statue while digging the parking lot soil, saying, "I saw a pale object underground."

Crowley explained the situation at the time, saying, "I thought it was a big stone, but I was surprised when a face appeared," and "When I picked up the stone, I realized it was the head of a statue." He added, "I couldn't believe it when I heard that it was a Roman-era marble statue," and "It is the greatest discovery of my life."

The head of the statue was not the only thing found at the parking lot site. Just two weeks later, near the spot where the statue's head was discovered, a bust of the same statue was found as the parking lot was nearing completion. Bugley House officials explained, "Experts estimated that this statue was made in the 1st to 2nd century," and "In the late 18th century, Italian antiquities dealers likely connected the bust and pedestal with iron rods to make the statue more attractive." They also said, "It appears that the 9th Earl of Bugley purchased it during his trip to Italy in the 1760s," but "It remains a mystery why the statue's head and bust were buried." They mentioned possibilities such as theft or someone simply discarding the statue and later covering it with soil.

This statue is scheduled to be exhibited at Bugley House starting from the 16th. Not only the statue discovered on that day but also other statues purchased by the 9th Earl of Bugley will be on display.