Archaeologists working on a railway construction project in southern England have uncovered a rare Roman coin, dating back approximately 1,740 years, which offers a tangible connection to Britain's Roman past. The discovery was announced on July 1 by East West Rail, the organization overseeing the rail link project between Oxford and Cambridge.
The coin bears the name of Roman Emperor Carausius, a historical figure who commanded a Roman fleet stationed in the English Channel. Its presence provides valuable dating evidence for archaeologists and offers a direct link to the period of Roman occupation in Britain.
The excavation, part of the ongoing East West Rail development, has revealed more than just the coin. Archaeologists have found evidence of Roman settlement and farming activity, including pits, ditches, and postholes containing pottery that helps in dating the site. The coin was discovered through metal detecting within the fills of these features.
Mike Court, historic environment lead at East West Rail, noted that while geophysical surveys can predict the presence of ancient remains, they do not typically detect isolated finds like coins or burials. These discoveries often come as unexpected finds during trenching operations.
The artifacts uncovered, including the coin and pottery fragments, span from the Iron Age through the Roman period, painting a picture of a landscape inhabited for hundreds of years. Court emphasized the personal connection these finds offer, stating, "Maybe the most compelling thing about these objects is not their association with emperors and historic events, but [their] connection to ordinary people." He added that each coin was once carried by an individual living in Roman Britain.
East West Rail plans to excavate approximately 6,000 trenches along the route. Archaeologists anticipate making further significant discoveries over the next two years of the program, expecting to uncover sites from most, if not all, periods of British history and prehistory. The ongoing evaluation will lead to a better understanding of the excavated sites and their historical importance.