It was baptized as the “Berlanga Cup”. It is an exceptional Roman cup found by chance in Berlanga del Duero, Soria. A team with the participation of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the National Archaeological Museum found it. They published in the magazine Britannia the study and characterization of the object, which would be the souvenir of Hadrian's Wall manufactured in the 2nd century AD in Britannia (current United Kingdom).
Collection
It is the only one of the five known 'Hadrian's Wall cups' to feature inscriptions from the eastern forts. These are a rare series of enameled vessels linked to this border. Researchers interpret the piece as a souvenir brought to the peninsula by a Celtiberian soldier. He had to serve on the most remote frontier of the Roman Empire.
Most of the cups in this series have been found in British territory. But the 'Berlanga cup' is the second of these pieces found on the peninsula. There was a discovery of a fragment in the 19th century that is currently preserved in London. It will be the only one that will be exhibited in Spain. Specifically, the cup can be visited at the Numantino Museum in Soria. It is undergoing restoration work before being exposed to the public.
A small group of buildings was also found, remains of a Roman villa active between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. The work combined surface survey, ground-penetrating radar and historical aerial photographs. They were carried out in the area known as La Cerrada del Arroyo, just 100 meters from the center of Berlanga del Duero.
Unique products
The cup appeared fragmented, deformed and incomplete. Preserves around 80-90% of the object. The Hadrian's Wall souvenir could be reconstructed virtually. It is a hemispherical bronze bowl with enamelled decoration in red, green, turquoise and blue. Its decoration represents Hadrian's Wall through a frieze dotted with turrets. This motif connects it to a very rare series of enameled vessels linked to Hadrian's Wall. Only four other specimens are known in the entire world (in addition to two fragments).
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