Roman swords in the Cotswolds

Two Roman long swords (spathae), together with remnants of their wooden scabbards and furniture, were discovered by a metal detectorist in the north of the Cotswolds, England. A team from Historic England have assisted the Corinium Museum by undertaking X-ray analysis to establish the manufacturing process and to assess their condition. Further archaeological appraisal at the site should help to put the swords into context, as nobody knows why the objects ended up deposited in the Cotswolds or who they might have belonged to. X-rays show that the swords were constructed differently: one has evidence of pattern welding running down the centre of the sword, while the other is plain with no evidence of pattern welding. The X-rays highlight incised decorations, as well as evidence of the manufacture itself. Patterns reveal how…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVII.1

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