2024-08-30 15:00:14
While walking the dog with his mother, a 12-year-old boy from Britain makes an unexpected discovery in a field – not a dog stick or an interesting stone, but a gold bracelet from first-century Roman Britain.
Unlike most other Roman-era jewelry, the shiny bracelet was probably not worn by a woman, researchers later suggested. Instead, it likely belonged to a man who received the accessory as a military honour, possibly “a reward for bravery”, according to a statement from Chichester Local District Council.
The bracelet is described as “exceptional” and “comparatively rare in Roman Britain”, particularly because it is made of gold, according to the statement.
The boy and his mother, Rowan and Amanda Brannon, were walking the family dog in Pagham, a coastal village in West Sussex, England, in 2022 when Rowan spotted the bracelet. They took it to a local official associated with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a project run by the British Museum which catalogs archaeological finds discovered by the public in the UK.
A recently announced analysis of the bracelet showed that it was made of gold leaf with relief molds and dates to the first century AD, not long after the Roman emperor Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD.
The cuff, now folded, is almost 7.1 cm long, although it would be longer if unfolded. Known as armilla bracelets, these “dona militaria” or “military awards” were awarded for feats of bravery during the Roman conquest of Britain, according to the Program for Portable Antiquities. Later these feats were rewarded with money rather than jewels.
The discovery of the bracelet confirms the existing evidence that at that time there were Roman soldiers in the region – active or retired, reports Vesti.bg.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme declared the bracelet to be a ‘treasure’ or an artefact made of gold or silver which is at least 300 years old. After its discovery, the bracelet was acquired by the Novium Museum, which houses the collections for the county of Chichester. From September 10, it will be on public display.
“The acquisition of this bracelet for the Novium Museum collection will offer our visitors further information about ancient practices. In particular, it will help shed light on military attitudes, including how Roman soldiers were rewarded for their bravery, valor and service, particularly in relation to the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43,” Adrian Moss, councilor and leader of Chichester Borough Council, said in a statement.
He also congratulated 12-year-old Rowan on the find.
“It really goes to show that you never know what you might find if you keep your eyes peeled when you’re out there!” concluded Moss.