The Central Southern Group

A new and updated examination of a group of Romano-British mosaics originally identified by David Johnston in 1977. Placing emphasis upon general factors such as schemes, colour and techniques rather than upon individual motifs, the author excludes the mosaics of Bignor and Chichester (both Sussex) from Johnston's list of attributions and adds a recently discovered fragment from Castle Copse (Wiltshire). The attribution of a mosaic at Basildon (Berkshire) must now be regarded as uncertain, but others among Johnston's attributions are strengthened by the evidence of newly studied drawings and photographs; moreover, some additional mosaics may now be added to the group, e.g., at West Meon (Hampshire), Downton (Wiltshire) and possibly Grateley (Hampshire). There may be loose connections between the Central Southern Group and the Durnovarian Group, focused round Dorchester (Dorset).