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A group of 16 artefacts – found on Anglesey and all dating to the Iron Age and Roman period – were recently declared Treasure in Wales. They were found by Ian Porter in March 2020 while metal-detecting in a field under pasture in Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf Community.
It is not believed that these objects represent a coherent hoard – rather, as their findspot lies next to where a spring emerges in a boggy area of the modern field, it is thought that they may have been placed there as repeated religious offerings. The artefacts include Iron Age chariot fittings as well as Roman cavalry fittings, and all date to between AD 50 and AD 120, around the time of, or soon after, the Roman invasion of Anglesey in AD 60/61. Among the items are three bridle-bits, a terret (or rein-guide), a set of four harness discs known as phalerae, and a ram’s-head fitting, probably from a vehicle or staff, which is decorated in the late Celtic art-style. Also discovered was a large Roman copper ingot, weighing an impressive 20.5kg, which is thought to derive from copper mined at nearby Mynydd Parys; a decorated brooch; four coins (the latest of which dates to AD 364-378); and a lead pot repair.
Oriel Môn, the local accredited museum, hopes to acquire the finds once they have been independently valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Text: K Krakowka / Image: Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
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