AssetID: 54889446
Headline: Swords In The Home: Archaeologists Discover 'Roman Villa' On Sight Ancient Weaponry Was Found
Caption: Swords In The Home: Archaeologists Discover 'Roman Villa' On Sight Ancient Weaponry Was Found. Archaeologists have found a Roman villa after metal detectorists discovered two swords near a Gloucestershire village. The settlement, near Willersey, dates from the Early-Middle Iron Age through to the first and second Centuries AD. The excavation reveals possible evidence of the huge Roman villa with flanking wings. However, more fieldwork is needed to confirm this. The dig follows the discovery of two iron Roman cavalry swords, possibly displaying traces of their scabbards, during a metal detecting rally in the north of the Cotswolds in March 2023. It is believed these long swords or 'spatha' were used by the Romans on horseback from early in the second century AD through to the third century AD. The archaeological team has discovered evidence of settlements spanning several centuries, including three, possibly four, Iron Age ring ditches measuring up to 18.5 metres in diameter, a substantial rectangular enclosure, the remains of Roman limestone buildings, ceramic roofing and box flue tiles, and painted wall plaster. In one trench an Iron Age burial, including an iron band around the body's upper right arm, was excavated, whilst in close proximity a horse skull had been buried in a pit.
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