Roman relic found by boy in field goes on display

The rare gold bracelet is thought to have been a bravery award given to a soldier

A rare Roman gold bracelet found by a 12-year-old boy while walking his dog is to go on display.

Rowan Brannan, from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, spotted the ancient artefact by chance with his mother Amanda in a field in Pagham in 2022.

They took the bracelet to a local Finds Liaison Officer and it was confirmed to be Roman, probably dating back to the first century AD.

The item will go on display at the Novium Museum in Chichester from 10 September. It was purchased with a grant from Arts Council England and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Experts have described the bracelet as a relatively rare find in Britain, and believe it would have been a military award made as a battle honour.

Most Roman jewellery discovered in the UK had been designed to be worn by women.

Chichester District Council leader Adrian Moss said: "Acquiring this bracelet for The Novium Museum's collection will help shed light on military attitudes, including how Roman soldiers were rewarded for their bravery, gallantry and service, particularly with regards to the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43.

"This piece will widen our museum team's understanding of Roman life locally and allows us to tell a different story from the Roman period."

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