Two swords discovered in Gloucestershire may indicate the location of a Roman villa from the second or third century AD, coinciding with Saxon movements. Experts suggest the swords could have been hidden intentionally but were not well concealed from metal detectorist Glenn Manning. The swords will be exhibited at the Corinium museum in Cirencester. The growing popularity of metal detecting in Britain can be linked to the pandemic and the BBC comedy Detectorists. Mudlarking has similarly risen in popularity, highlighting a tension between treasure seekers and archaeological practices.
The discovery of two swords at a dig in Gloucestershire has opened speculation that a Roman villa may have existed in the region during the second or third century AD. Experts note that the swords may have been deliberately hidden, yet not deeply enough to escape detection by a novice metal detectorist, Glenn Manning.
The public will soon have the opportunity to view the swords in an exhibit at the Corinium museum in Cirencester, where they will join a list of remarkable finds made by hobbyists. Notably, Richard Brock found a gold nugget in the Shropshire Hills using an old, partially functional machine.
The rise in interest in metal detecting in Britain can be attributed to two main factors: the pandemic, which encouraged people to seek new hobbies, and the success of the BBC comedy Detectorists, which charmingly portrayed the lives of hobbyists and their passion for finding hidden treasures.
Mudlarking on the Thames experienced a parallel surge in popularity, evolving from a niche interest into a widely recognized pastime. Like metal detectorists, mudlarks sometimes clash with the archaeological community over their focus on tangible treasures.
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