Metal Detectorist Finds Trove in Wales Containing Ox-Headed Bowl, Roman Coins, Iron Age Vessels; Findings Point to a Mysterious Ancient Roman Settlement

(Photo : Pexels / Lukas )

A metal detectorist was able to come across a treasure trove in the countryside in Wales. The trove was found to contain Iron Age vessels, various Roman coins, and a unique ox-headed bowl, among other unique artifacts.

Trove Found in Wales

According to Live Science, these findings have been considered a "treasure" by the U.K. government since April 28. However, their discovery was actually not recent. They were specifically found back in 2019 by metal detectorist Jon Matthews, as he was exploring a Monmouthshire pasture in southeastern Wales.

After Matthews came across the trove, he reached out to local authorities for further exploration of the area, as reported by Wales Online. Archaeologists then carefully excavated the discoveries, which were later brought to Wales' National Museum, the Amgueddfa Cymru, for further study and preservation, as reported by Ancient Origins.

Wales Online reports that, in total, six fragmentary and two complete vessels were found in the area.

The pile was found to contain several vessels that date to the Iron Age (from 750 B.C. to A.D. 43). These vessels included a bucket containing copper alloy fittings, two tankards of wood, a strainer, a cauldron, and a bowl that had a metal handle that had an ox-head shape (with horns also being intact).

Some Roman artifacts were also found. These include saucepans of copper alloy that could have gotten buried during Emperor Claudius', Rome's fourth emperor, conquest back in A.D. 43. This was a time of great uproar in England. Live Science notes that local inhabitants could have buried their belongings as the Romans were infiltrating the region.

As per Ancient Origins, the ox-headed bowl was extremely unique. Its ox-headed handle had a green metal decoration and an ox with wide eyes and bowed horns. The ox's jaw or lower lips stretched outward into the loop that was handle-like. The team named the find Bovril.

Now that it’s been declared treasure, I’m excited to finally share this incredible hoard that I was so lucky to help excavate. The c.1st century AD Llantrisant Fawr vessel hoard found near Usk, Monmouthshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

We named the ox, Bovril 🥰#FindsFriday https://t.co/3DqErFqNBu pic.twitter.com/2fqYyQXUFa
— 🎄Dr! Adelle Bricking is archae_delle on Threads (@archae_delle) May 5, 2023

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Mysterious Ancient Roman Settlement?

Live Science adds that other troves containing A.D. third- to fourth-century copper alloy coins were also spotted in Caerwent, a nearby village, between the years 2014 and 2022. Coling Price and Rhys Cadwallader were the metal detectorists behind these discoveries.

Wales Online notes that experts consider the several unique findings indicative of a mysterious ancient Roman settlement that was previously undiscovered.

Alastair Willis, the National Museum Wales' senior curator, explains that the two hoard findings in the same field and vicinity of the Roman town are quite significant and exciting. Willis adds that such findings are crucial to knowing more about what happened in southeast Wales when the Romans left.

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