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A remarkable Roman cup discovered in central Spain is revealing links between Hadrian’s Wall and the Hispanic soldiers who served there.
The object was uncovered by chance in farmland in Berlanga de Duero, in the province of Soria. Despite being found in four fragments, when pieced together they make up a beautiful hemispherical bowl mostly in good condition. The vessel measures c.114mm in diameter at its widest point and stands around 81mm tall. It is made of bronze and covered with colourful enamel decoration featuring an apparent schematic depiction of Hadrian’s Wall, complete with a projecting crenellated pattern widely supposed to represent turrets or forts. Above them, a Latin epigraphic inscription lists the names of four Roman forts located in the eastern sector of the Wall: Cilurnum, Onno, Vindobala, and Condercum.
This find, named the Berlanga Cup, is the latest addition to a small group of vessels known as ‘the Hadrian’s Wall Pans’, which feature representations of Hadrian’s Wall and/or inscriptions naming individual forts. The latest discovery features well-preserved enamel decoration, and is the only one with inscriptions relating to forts in the eastern sector of Hadrian’s Wall.
Study of the Berlanga Cup, including compositional analysis of the metal and enamels, reveals that it was probably manufactured in northern Britain during the 2nd century AD. The researchers have also conducted investigations in the area where it was found. The team used ground-penetrating radar and carried out a survey of surface finds, with the results indicating that the area was the location of a building complex potentially in use in the 1st-2nd centuries AD.
The finely crafted vessel – which has been described as ‘one of the most significant finds of the year for archaeology in the British Isles, Spain, and the field of Roman military studies’ – offers a valuable opportunity better to understand the phenomenon of the Hadrian’s Wall Pans. All signs now point to these cups being souvenirs or mementos from the Wall, specifically intended for soldiers who served there. They may have been bought by veterans or soldiers heading home as a reminder of their time at the frontier, or perhaps they were given as gifts or recognition for particular achievements. The Berlanga Cup was presumably bought by or presented to a soldier with connections to forts in the eastern sector of Hadrian’s Wall, and carried with him all the way to ancient Celtiberia, almost 2,000km away. It is believed that the soldier may have served in one of the Hispanic units known to have been stationed on or near Hadrian’s Wall.
Research into the cup has been published in the journal Britannia (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0068113X26100701), and the vessel is currently housed in the Numantino Museum in Soria.
Text: Amy Brunskill / Images: Roberto De Pablo; Jesús García with data from Nicky Garland (2020); 3D Stoa – Archaeology and Heritage
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