Two “exceptionally rare” Roman pig lead ingots dating back almost 2,000 years have been discovered on farmland in west Wales.
The rectangular lead blocks were unearthed on grazing land in Llangynfelyn, Ceredigion, by metal detectorists Nick Yallope and Peter Nicholas. An inscription cast into the metal dates the ingots to AD 87 and refers to the Roman emperor Domitian, who ruled from AD 81 to 96 and oversaw major expansion and consolidation of Roman Britain.
Roman lead ingots, sometimes known as “pigs,” were produced from locally mined ore and used in the manufacture of tools, weapons and infrastructure components across the empire. The inscription would have marked imperial control over production, highlighting the strategic importance of Britain’s mineral resources.
Geraint Jenkins, the farmer and landowner who granted permission for the search, described the find as remarkable. “Roman ingots are exceptionally rare and represent a tangible link to Wales’ Roman industrial past,” he said. “It is astonishing to think that land we now farm organically once played a role in a much wider Roman landscape.”
Mr Yallope said he felt “incredibly proud to have uncovered something so rare and important to our local heritage,” adding that unlocking “a new chapter of our area’s past is incredibly exciting.” Mr Nicholas said his motivation was to “save history for the local community and future generations.”
Carrie Canham of Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth said the artefacts were the first Roman lead ingots of their kind found in west Wales. She said the discovery “highlights Ceredigion’s significance” during Domitian’s reign and underlines the role the region played in the emperor’s empire-building programme.
“Ceredigion’s rich mineral and ore deposits were a major reason the Romans sought to conquer this area,” she said, noting that lead mined locally would have travelled across the Roman Empire.
The museum hopes to acquire the ingots and plans to feature them in a new archaeology gallery due to open in 2027.
Under the Treasure Act 1996, any potential treasure discovered in Wales must be reported to a Finds Liaison Officer within 14 days. Failure to do so can result in fines or imprisonment. Finds are assessed by experts to determine whether they meet the legal definition of treasure before museums are given the opportunity to acquire them.
Header Image Credit : Nick Yallope/Peter Nicolas
