In March 2019, a man using a metal detector made an exciting discovery of 2,000-year-old Roman artifacts while exploring a pasture in Llantrisant Fawr, Wales. The National Museum Wales recently announced this remarkable find in collaboration with McClatchy News.
The metal detectorist, Jon Matthews, realized he had stumbled upon a buried treasure and promptly informed local archaeological authorities. A team of experts conducted further excavations at the site. Adelle Bricking, an archaeologist involved in the dig, provided insights into the process via Twitter.
The team determined that the eight artifacts, including two remarkably intact pieces, belonged to the Iron Age and were likely buried during the Roman conquest in the latter half of the 1st century CE. Among the discoveries was a metal bowl handle shaped like an ox head with curved horns, featuring a jaw that extended into a loop for gripping.
Additionally, the team found an ancient Roman saucepan, a broken handle, two wooden barrel fragments, an Iron Age bucket with copper alloy fittings, an Iron Age copper alloy cauldron and strainer, as well as abstract black and orange metal bucket mounts.
Jon Matthews expressed his honor at discovering something of such unique historical significance associated with Wales and its ancestors. The National Museum Wales is currently evaluating the possibility of acquiring the artifacts, pending an assessment by an independent committee.