A collection of Iron Age and Roman metal artifacts was unearthed by a metal detectorist in Wales. These are believed to be national treasures.
According to a statement from Amgueddfa Cymru, the Museum of Wales, Ian Porter made this discovery in 2020 while exploring the pastures and a stream in Anglesey, located off the western coast of mainland Wales.
Roman treasures unearthed in Wales.
Porter stated: “I am thrilled to have found these items. Just think that the last person to touch them lived nearly two thousand years ago, and it shows a part of the island’s history.”
He immediately notified the authorities from the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales, which records archaeological discoveries made by the public, about 16 items, including several Iron Age chariot fittings from the 1st century AD and Roman cavalry accessories such as sections of bridle, a male sheep’s head joint, and a set of four harness plates.
He also discovered a decorated brooch, four coins, and a lead vessel, all dating from the Roman period in Britain (43 to 410 AD), as well as a large Roman bronze ingot weighing 20 kg that was used in bronze production, likely melted down from metal sourced from a nearby mine.
Adam Gwilt, the principal curator of prehistory at the Museum of Wales, remarked: “This group of artifacts is an important new discovery for the island. It dates from or after the time when the Roman army invaded the island in 60 or 61 AD.”
Experts believe that many of the artifacts, including the chariot fittings and harness, were deposited at this site sometime between 50 and 120 AD, while the Roman coins were minted around 364 to 378 AD.
This is not the first time artifacts from this period have been found in Wales. In the 1940s, a cache of Iron Age items was discovered.
