Museum in Wales announces sensational Bronze Age finds

Roman toilet spoon found among treasures using a metal detector

The finds, detailed by Amgueddfa Cymru Museum in Wales in a new report, include fragments of Bronze Age swords, a Roman toilet spoon and a silver ring. It took curators 5 years to determine the significance of the artifacts.

The Bronze Age treasure was found by metal detectorist Mark Herman in the Vale of Glamorgan in south-east Wales back in 2019. But it was not until 2024 that the museum’s exploration of the artifacts ended.

The treasure, according to museum representatives, includes fragments of two bronze swords and five bronze axes, which date back to approximately 1000-800 BC. These finds support archaeologists’ belief that metals were being exchanged in Wales and northern France at this time, as many Late Bronze Age artefacts have been found in these regions.

“These finds are unusual because they contain fragments of two swords, one of which is a fragment of a blade tip with decorative grooves, which was made in the north-west of France,” said Chris Griffiths, a researcher at the Amguedd Cymru Museum in Wales. “So this small The piece of artefact is a key part of a much wider story linking the people who lived in the Pendoilan community with those who lived in north-west France some 3,000 years ago.”

A Roman ligula, also known as a “toilet spoon”, was also discovered. Valentinas Avdeevas found it while metal detecting in the Vale of Glamorgan in 2020. Toilet spoons were a tool used in ancient times, mainly either for cosmetics or for dispensing medicine. It is not entirely clear to scholars whether one use was preferred over the other.

Another archeology enthusiast, Carlton Sheese, discovered a silver ring dating back to the modern period. The decoration is inlaid with beads in the form of a zigzag pattern. Experts also noticed traces of the previous owner. It is no different from other finds from the early 16th century, scientists say, meaning it provides a clearer illustration of the trends of the time.

“This decorative silver-gilt finger ring is a fine example of a type popular in the 15th and 16th centuries,” explained the curator of medieval and later archeology at the National Museum of Wales.

All items found are reported to be recorded, contributing to the understanding of fashion and style in Wales during the late medieval and early Tudor periods. This is done under the Antiquities Program and the provisions of the Treasures Act.