The discovery of an extremely rare Tyrian purple block paint from Roman Britain has brought new light to the production and use of this highly valued artificial pigment in ancient times. During the excavation of a Roman bath in Carlisle, England, archaeologists and volunteers stumbled upon an object made of a soft purple substance that contained beeswax and the element bromine.
Tyrian purple was secreted by some carnivorous sea snails that lived in the Mediterranean region, and its production was extremely difficult. It required the collection of thousands of sea snails, making it a highly expensive commodity more valuable than even gold. It was reserved for use by the upper class due to its rarity and high value.
Frank Gieko, an archaeologist with mining consultancy Wardell Armstrong who participated in the Carlisle excavations, stated that finding a solid specimen like this is particularly unusual as it is believed to be one of only two examples known from Northern Europe. This discovery sheds light on how far Tyrian purple traveled during Roman times, highlighting its importance and value across different parts of the empire.
The Phoenicians were known for producing Tyrian purple in Tire – a city in Lebanon – using mollusks from the Mediterranean Sea as their primary source for dye. Other areas such as North Africa also produced this precious pigment. However, Sarah Irving, spokeswoman for Cumberland Council which worked with Wardell Armstrong on the project, believes that this sample at Carlisle may have been used to paint frescoes or used in large public buildings, high-end properties or sometimes for clothing.
This discovery not only adds historical significance to Carlisle but also opens up new avenues for research into ancient trade routes and cultural exchanges during Roman times.