Boy walking his dog discovers 1st century Roman treasure

Before the Roman army awarded money as prizes to their soldiers (dona militaria), they distributed a type of bracelet or armband. The Novium Museum in Chichester has acquired one such bracelet, which was found two years ago by a boy walking his dog in West Sussex, southern England.

The boy’s name is Rowan Brannan, and his mother is Amanda. At the time, 12-year-old Rowan was walking with his mother around Bognor Regis, a seaside town, and they ventured to the beaches of Pagham, about two miles from their home. It was on this beach that they made the unexpected discovery. Rowan found a set of flattened plates with raised designs in the sand, which turned out to be an ancient Roman treasure.

Following British law, the boy’s mother contacted the local finds liaison officer to report their discovery. Various studies and tests confirmed that the bracelet dated back to the Roman era, likely from the 1st century AD. This discovery is significant as it indicates that Roman soldiers, whether active or retired, populated southern England.

The armilla-type bracelet measures approximately 2.8 inches in length, 0.3 inches in width, and weighs about 0.27 ounces. It features a decoration of five parallel mouldings, with smooth ribs on the outer and central ones, while the other two have a rope-like design. There are visible file marks in several places, and the terminals appear to have been cut, with a circular perforation near one of them.

Archaeologists at the Novium Museum, which acquired the bracelet with support from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, believe it was likely a military bracelet awarded to a soldier for bravery, suggesting it most likely belonged to a man. The museum has announced that the relic will be on display starting September 10.

Experts note that gold pieces like this were rare in Roman Britain. Its addition to the Novium Museum will provide insights into how Roman soldiers were rewarded for their bravery during the invasion of Britain in 43 AD, according to Chichester councilor Adrian Moss. The acquisition of the bracelet will enhance the museum’s understanding of the Roman period in the Chichester/Arun area and ensure it is available for future research.

North of the Thames, from East Anglia to Dorset, over 150 examples of copper alloy bracelets similar to this one have been recorded. However, gold pieces are rarely found; in fact, only three made of precious metals have been discovered in Britain, two of which are silver.

These pieces were part of the Fenwick treasure, discovered in a well. This well was opened before the Iceni destroyed the colony around 60/61 AD.

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Original article written in Spanish, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.