An archaeological dig in Oxfordshire has uncovered the 1,800 year-old remains of a tiny Roman dog.

At under eight inches tall at the shoulder, researchers said the ancient pooch was one of the five smallest Roman dogs ever discovered in the UK, and that its unusually small size means it is likely to have been a much-loved pet.

The little dog, which is thought to have been female with bowed legs, would probably have had a similar stature to a dachshund, but been closer in size to a chihuahua.

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“The fact that this dog was so small and had bowed legs suggests that she probably wasn’t bred for hunting," said Hannah Russ and Sarah Everett, the zooarchaeologists who analysed the animal remains.

"This, along with the fact that she might have even been buried with her owner, makes it far more likely that she was kept as a house dog, lap dog, or pet”

The animal’s remains were unearthed during an archaeological dig at the headquarters of environmental charity Earth Trust in Oxfordshire by a team of archaeologists from DigVentures.

The excavation took place downslope from one of South Oxfordshire’s most iconic landmarks - Wittenham Clumps.

During the excavations, archaeologists discovered a large Roman villa, as well as the earlier remains of an earlier Iron Age settlement.

In total, the remains of at least 15 small-medium sized dogs, including the tiny lapdog, were recovered from the Roman villa, which was occupied for around 150 years between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

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Archaeologists also found domestic items such as cooking utensils.

“This site provides a snapshot of domestic life in Roman Britain; it’s like peering into someone’s home. The villa would have been occupied by a relatively wealthy Roman family, who ran a farm with an assortment of working animals, including hunting or herding dogs – as well as this tiny canine” said Maiya Pina-Dacier from DigVentures.

Archaeologists found that the villa’s residents were also keeping chickens, geese, pigs, cattle, sheep or goats, and horses, donkeys or mules for food and farming.

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But not all animals were kept for practical purposes; several ravens and crows were also discovered which may have been used in ritual or ceremonial activities rather than for food.

In the Iron Age part of the site, the team also discovered the remains of a decapitated dog, similar to a greyhound, buried in a pit along with a cow skull.

The remains, along with other artefacts from the dig, will be displayed for the very first time in a pop-up exhibition at Earth Trust this August, as part of Clumps Go Ancient – a family friendly festival that will bring the discoveries to life.