Amateur metal detectorist Glenn Manning made a remarkable contribution to historical archaeology by uncovering two iron Roman cavalry swords in March 2023. His discovery, though seemingly insignificant at first, prompted a team of archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology and Historic England to launch an extensive excavation in Gloucestershire, England, revealing a 2,000-year-old Roman settlement. The site, located near Willersey, was inhabited between the first and second centuries A.D., and spans hundreds of years, offering a unique glimpse into Roman military and civilian life during that period.
The excavation uncovered a variety of artifacts, including a Roman villa, remnants of limestone buildings, and at least three Iron Age ring ditches. Among the discoveries were also ceramic roofing, painted wall plaster, and box flue tiles—items that provide important insights into the construction and daily life of the settlement. The site’s significance was further highlighted by the discovery of a burial site where a skeleton retained an iron band around its arm, as well as a horse skull, though the latter’s connection to the Roman settlement remains uncertain.
Manning’s swords, which were donated to the Corinium Museum in Cirencester, reveal interesting details about Roman military life. One of the swords features decorative pattern welding, indicating it was a high-status item, while the other was plain. These swords, likely belonging to cavalrymen in the second century A.D., are contemporary with the villa found at the site, though the exact connection between the swords and the settlement remains a mystery. Cotswold Archaeology’s onsite project officer, Peter Busby, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, describing the site as the first stage in telling the history of the fields and their cavalry swords.
The find also underscores the ongoing importance of amateur archaeology in the field. Manning, a first-time metal detectorist, described his experience as ‘amazing,’ recalling a feeling he had the morning before the discovery that something special was waiting to be found. The Romans occupied the British Isles from 43 A.D. until 410 A.D., and such discoveries continue to shed light on their impact and legacy on the region. Recent archaeological finds, including an unusual eight-sided Roman ring in Lincolnshire and a Roman grave filled with gypsum found during a highway construction project, reflect the continuous uncovering of Roman history in England.