When Jane Austen Took a Turn About the Ballroom in Bath, Ancient Roman Artifacts Were Hiding Beneath Her Feet. Now, Archaeologists Have Finally Found Them

If you lived in England during the early 19th century and happened to attend a ball in the city of Bath, you might have stumbled into Jane Austen. Today, so-called Janeites flock to the Bath Assembly Rooms to see their favorite author’s old haunt. The historic Georgian building was a vibrant social hub where locals gathered for balls and concerts.

But even at the time, as Austen danced in the opulent halls, ancient history was already hiding in the ground beneath her feet. The Assembly Rooms are currently closed for renovations, which have given archaeologists the chance to excavate the ground below. They’ve unearthed a network of ancient ditches and dozens of Roman artifacts, including coins, pottery, glassware, roof tiles and a piece of a military helmet.

The emperor Claudius officially ordered the invasion of Britain in 43 C.E., and workers built Bath’s famous bathhouses a few decades later. Constructed around a natural hot spring, they stood beside a temple honoring the goddess Sulis Minerva. The baths served as the centerpiece of the Roman settlement of Aquae Sulis.

The Assembly Rooms opened northwest of the baths in 1771. Austen moved to the city a few decades later. She had mixed feelings about Bath, but she was a frequent presence at the Assembly Rooms, which even appeared in two of her novels, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.

The work includes repairing damage from World War II-era bombings, replacing the floors and front doors, and conserving ten original Georgian chandeliers. The building will reopen in 2027. Over the summer, Wessex Archaeology, which is overseeing the excavations, announced the discovery of Georgian artifacts at the site, including wig curlers, tobacco pipes and wine bottles.

Officials shared the Roman-era finds earlier this month. One of the most intriguing discoveries is a fragment of a Roman helmet. According to archaeologists, the artifact suggests that members of the military might have helped build the Roman city and the roads that led to it.