The find – the first of its kind in west Wales – is incredibly rare and has been described as one of ‘historical significance’
Two lead ingots found by metal detectorists in Ceredigion dating back almost 2,000 years have been declared treasure(Image: Amgueddfa Cymru)
Rare Roman treasure dating back almost 2,000 years has been found in a field in west Wales. Two lead ingots were discovered by two metal detectorists in the Llangynfelyn area, north of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion.
It’s believed that the two ingots – commonly known as lead ‘pigs’ – date back to AD87 based on lettering written on them, which refers to the Emperor Domitian. The treasure is the first of its kind to be found in west Wales, with Amgueddfa Cymru, Wales museums body, describing the ingots as having “historical significance”.
The items were found by Nick Yallope and Peter Nicolas, who had been given permission to dig on grazing land by landowner Geraint Jenkins.
They uncovered the ingots at a depth of half a metre and less than two metres apart. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
“I feel incredibly proud to have uncovered something so rare and important to our local heritage. Unlocking a new chapter of our area’s past, is incredibly exciting,” said Mr Yallope.
Mr Nicolas added: “I’m just trying to save history for the local community and future generations. And I’ve always been very happy to donate my finds to the local museum for others to experience and enjoy.” Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Landowner Mr Jenkins said: “We were astonished when two local detectorists brought this discovery to our attention. Roman ingots are exceptionally rare and represent a tangible link to Wales’ Roman industrial past.
“Our priority is that the find is handled responsibly so its full historical, cultural, and intrinsic value is properly understood and recognised. It’s remarkable to think that land we now farm organically once played a role in a much wider Roman landscape.”
Now that the ingots have been officially declared treasure, the hope is that they can be kept and put on display in a museum for everyone to see.
“We are very excited at the prospect of acquiring these remarkable objects,” said Carrie Canham, curator of Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum.
“Ceredigion’s rich mineral and ore deposits were a major reason the Romans sought to conquer this area.
“Lead mined here travelled across the breadth of the Roman Empire, and these lead pigs highlight Ceredigion’s significance in Emperor Domitian Caesar Augustus’s empire building. We plan to share this story in our new archaeology gallery, opening in 2027, so the timing of this discovery could not be better.”
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