Metal Detectorist Stumbles on Rare Roman Cavalry Swords, Experts Reveal It Was Used on Horseback
In 2023, researchers unearthed two rare Roman swords from a site north of the Cotswolds, England. Both the swords have been dated back to 160 A.D. by experts, reported Independent. Glenn Manning uncovered the weapons along with remnants of their wooden scabbards. Manning was involved in a metal detectorist rally when he made the discovery. According to experts, swords were used in Roman society throughout the later second century and far into the third century A.D.
The artifacts were quickly sent for examination after their discovery. Analysis unveiled that the swords were middle imperial weapons referred to as spatha in popular culture. Authorities are delighted by the finding as it reflects the region's extensive history. "This new discovery shows what an incredibly deep history the Cotswolds has... This is truly a remarkable archaeological find and I can’t wait for visitors to see them on display in the years to come," Cotswolds district councilor Paul Hodgkinson said.
The sword's length indicates they were cavalry weapons used by warriors on horseback, according to Smithsonian Magazine. They were shorter than the Roman gladius used by foot soldiers and had features found in spatha, a weapon with long, straight blades. The blade's elevation combined with other qualities made the weapon a good choice for soldiers to use while on horseback. Spatha was also used by civilians during the second century.
It was not unusual for civilians to own spathas at that time in the area, because of the constant danger from bandits. Hence, their appearance was not surprising to experts. The aspect that makes them stand apart for researchers is their appearance in pairs, stated Independent. "In terms of parallels, I can’t think of finds of more than one sword being deposited in any similar circumstance from Roman Britain," Professor Simon James from Leicester University who examined the weapons added. "The closest that springs to mind was a pair of similar swords found in Canterbury – with their owners, face down in a pit within the city walls, clearly a clandestine burial, almost certainly a double murder," he said.
The swords were placed beside a broken copper alloy bowl at the site. Experts believe that these swords clearly prove that the Roman military was present in the area during the second and third centuries. "People famously asked, 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'" said Paul Hodgkinson, the Cotswold District Council member for leisure, culture, and health. "Well, they have just given us some amazing examples of weapons used almost 2,000 years ago when Cirencester was the second biggest town in Britain," stated Smithsonian Magazine.
The swords are currently in the custody of the Corinium Museum for preservation. "The question is—and the mystery is—why were those swords buried in the north of the Cotswolds?" says Emma Stuart, director of the Corinium Museum, in a YouTube video. "What were they doing there?"