West Coker Villa

Roman Villa

Excavations at West Coker have uncovered the site of a Roman villa; foundations, tesserae, painted wall plaster, pottery, a figurine of Mars and Iron Age horse trappings and a brooch were recovered. It was occupied 3rd-4th centuries AD.

There is a single inscription listed in Vol.I of the R.I.B. for West Coker, a dedicatory ansate plate to the god Mars Rigisamos, a conflation of the Roman god of war and one of his Native equivalents (vide RIB 187 infra), which was in former times affixed to the wall of a temple or upon an altar or pedestal dedicated to the god.

RIB187 - Dedication to Mars Rigisamus
To Mars Rigisamus, Iventius Sabinus gladly, willingly, and deservedly fulfilled his vow.
DEO MARTI
RIGISAMO
IVENTIVS
SABINVS
V S L L M
For Mars Rigisamus see CIL xiii 1190, Bourges (ILS 4581). Iventius is a by-form of Juventius.

References for West Coker

  • Historical Map and Guide – Roman Britain by the Ordnance Survey (3rd, 4th & 5th eds., 1956, 1994 & 2001);
  • The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965). 
  • Villa at West Coker (MONUMENT NO. 196297)

Roman Roads near West Coker

N (6.5) to Ilchester SSE (19) to Dvrnovaria (Dorchester, Dorset)