The rare remains were discovered in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, according to a statement from Historic England, a public body that looks after the country’s historic environment, released on Thursday.
Archaeologists were drafted to work on the project because it had found remnants of the Iron Age and Romans, but the findings “were much more significant than expected,” Historic England said.
They include a circular central room with several built-in rooms, as well as a bathroom. Archaeologists believe the large building complex could have been a luxury villa, a religious shrine or a mixture of both.
The remains will be preserved in an open public space in the new urbanization.
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“These archeological remains are a fantastic find and are far more than we had ever dreamed of discovering at this site,” said Keith Emerick, an inspector of ancient monuments in Historic England. “They already give us a better knowledge and understanding of Roman Britain.”
This type of arrangement had not been discovered before in the UK and historic England said it may be the first time remnants of this complex have been seen throughout the Roman Empire, which covered large strips of the island of Britain from 43. -410 AD.
“This is a remarkable finding that adds to the history of the Roman settlement in North Yorkshire,” Karl Battersby, corporate director, business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, said in the statement.
“The work of North Yorkshire archaeologists has already established that the buildings were designed by the highest quality architects in northern Europe at the time and built by the finest craftsmen.”
Housing developer Keepmoat Homes has redesigned the development so that the remains sit in a public open space instead of being built on.
Historic England will support further archaeological work on the site and recommends that the remains be called a Scheduled Monument, which will give them protection.