Very rare sword find leads to discovery of extensive Roman-era settlement in England

Published on 04/07/2025 - 19:17 GMT+2

What began arsenic an highly uncommon find of 2 Roman swords by a metallic detectorist has led to an tremendous Early-Middle Iron Age find successful nan Cotswolds successful south-west England.

Archaeological excavations astatine nan tract successful Gloucestershire person revealed an extended Roman era colony from nan first and 2nd centuries.

The tract adjacent Willersey, funded by Historic England and directed jointly pinch Cotswold Archaeology, suggests imaginable grounds of a Roman villa, which whitethorn besides person a brace of flanking wings, 1 astatine either extremity of a cardinal range.

Once Historic England has nan last study connected nan archaeological work, it will beryllium capable to see whether to urge to nan UK authorities that nan tract beryllium protected arsenic a scheduled monument.

Iron Roman cavalry swords

The excavation follows nan find of 2 robust Roman cavalry swords, perchance displaying traces of their scabbards, during a metallic detecting rally successful nan northbound of nan Cotswolds successful March 2023.

The swords were primitively reported to and identified by nan Portable Antiquities Scheme, who arranged pinch nan finder, metallic detectorist Glenn Manning, and nan landowner for them to beryllium donated to nan Corinium Museum successful Cirencester.

The swords were X-rayed astatine Historic England’s subject installation astatine Fort Cumberland successful Portsmouth.

Analysis of nan weapons reveals they were constructed differently: 1 has grounds of ornamental shape welding moving down nan centre, whereas nan different beard is plain. The pattern-welded beard would person been much costly to nutrient and truthful higher status.

The swords will beryllium disposable for nan nationalist to spot astatine nan Corinium Museum from 2 August.

Although historically important, astatine nan clip of find they were not protected by laws specified arsenic nan 1996 Treasure Act arsenic nary golden aliases metallic were discovered wrong nan assemblage that contained nan 2 robust swords, respective copper alloy scabbard fittings and strap fittings and a fragmentary copper alloy bowl.

It is believed these agelong swords aliases ‘spatha’ were utilized by nan Romans connected horseback from early successful nan 2nd period AD done to nan 3rd period AD. They are modern pinch nan villa. How they came to beryllium location though, is presently unknown.

Additional sources • Historic England