Museum to house Roman gold bracelet found by 11-year-old boy

Chichester’s Novium Museum is the proud new owner of this Roman gold bracelet, which was discovered in 2022 by an 11-year-old boy while walking his dog with his mother. The gold bracelet dates back to the 1st century AD and is a rare Armilla-style cuff, an honour awarded to Roman soldiers for bravery in battle. Most bracelets found so far are bronze; this is only the fourth gold bracelet recorded in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database.

Rowan Brannan spotted the glitter of gold and insisted it was real gold, taking it home despite his mother’s objections. Rowan went home to research further and, with the support of a family friend who was a metal detectorist, reported it to the local discovery liaison officer. Archaeologists not only confirmed it was real gold, but also a genuine Roman artifact.

Earlier this year, the cannonball was declared a Crown Treasure by a coroner’s court. Rowan and his mother Amanda were kept informed of the process. The British Museum’s Valuation Committee then determined its fair market value and awarded it to a local museum close to the site of the find. The money will be split equally between the finder and the landowner.

The New Museum raised the money through the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. The bracelet will go on display at the museum until 10 September.

Adrian Moss, leader of Chichester District Council, said:

“Inclusion of this bracelet in the Novum Museum’s collection will help shed light on military attitudes, including how Roman soldiers were rewarded for their bravery, valour and service, particularly during the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD.

“This work will broaden our museum team’s understanding of local Roman life and allow us to tell a different story than that of the Roman period.”