Ancient Roman Treasure Found Wales
A rare 2,000-year-old Roman treasure was unearthed by metal detectorists in Wales, with items now being examined by the Amgueddfa Cymru museum. The discovery, described as "astonishing," provides a tangible link to the region's ancient past and will contribute to new museum displays. The find represents one of the most significant Roman archaeological discoveries in Wales in recent years.
The treasure consists of two lead ingots, often called "pigs," which were discovered by metal detectorists Nick Yallope and Peter Nicolas on farmland owned by Geraint Jenkins. Found buried about half a meter deep and less than two meters apart, the ingots are the first of their kind to be discovered in West Wales. Inscriptions on the lead ingots date them to AD 87, during the reign of Emperor Domitian. This dating provides strong evidence of Roman industrial activity in the region just over a decade after they finalized their conquest of the area in the mid-AD 70s. The discovery highlights the strategic importance of Ceredigion's rich mineral and ore deposits to the Roman Empire. Lead mined in this part of Wales was transported and used across the vast Roman territories for manufacturing tools and weapons. This find is not an isolated instance of Roman presence in the area; a Roman lead smelting site was previously discovered in a Ceredigion peat bog in 2005. The county is also home to the most remote known Roman villa in Wales, discovered near a former Roman fort. The lead ingots have been officially declared as treasure under the UK's Treasure Act. The items are now set to be acquired by Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, with plans to feature them in a new archaeology gallery scheduled to open in 2027.
