Archaeologists have identified a rare, 2,000-year-old Roman artefact, known as the ‘Berlanga Cup’, discovered in the soil of the La Serrada de Arroyo site in Soria, Spain. This cup is made of bronze and is a very rare example of what are known as the ‘Hadrian’s Wall Series’ vessels, and these usually come with decorative enamel work and inscriptions identifying Roman armies and the military fortifications built by those armies.Most known examples of ‘Hadrian’s Wall Series’ ships are built in the area that includes the western part of Hadrian’s Wall, while this example is the only example of a ‘Hadrian’s Wall Series’ boot documenting the eastern part of Hadrian’s Wall, specifically the forts located on the western part, such as Benwell and Hulton Chesters. Scholars are suggesting that this cup may have been given as a personal gift to a soldier, commemorating that soldier’s service to the Cohors I Celtiberorum when he returned home to Roman Spain.
Berlanga Cup: New evidence of Hadrian’s Wall found in Spain
The discovery of the Berlanga Cup (now identified in the journal Britannia) provides a unique opportunity to understand how military souvenirs were distributed throughout the Roman Empire. According to a journal published in Cambridge, the cup is the largest of the known Hadrian’s Wall pans, measuring approximately 114 millimeters in diameter and 81 millimeters in height. The exterior of the cup features elaborate decorative designs, including a horizontal frieze with colored (i.e., red, green, turquoise, navy) enamel and an inscription along the upper rim bearing the names of four different forts located on the east side of Hadrian’s Wall: Cylernum (Chesters), Onno (Halton Chesters), Vindobala (Rudchester), and Condarkum (Benwell).
how did the cup reach spain
As reported in a journal published in Cambridge, the cup was found at the Roman site of ‘La Cerrada de Arroyo’ in Berlanga de Duero and is currently housed in the Numantine Museum of Soria. Researchers have used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) along with detailed archaeological surveys of the objects to place the cup in context of its geographical location. The discovery of the cup in Spain, an area far from the Roman frontier, supports the previously suggested hypothesis that this type of artefact served as souvenirs for Roman soldiers. Scholars have concluded that the cup was probably either made or purchased by a veteran who wanted to celebrate his military service while stationed in Britain before returning home to Roman Celtiberia.
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Cup by Modern Science
Beyond its historical legend, the Berlanga Cup has undergone rigorous scientific investigation to confirm its authenticity and provenance. The researchers used portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry to perform archaeological characterization of the metal alloy. Analysis revealed the composition of lead gunmetal – a common material in Roman metalwork of the 2nd century AD – which included trace elements of silver and antimony that align with metal groups frequently found in Roman Britain. Additionally, experts used advanced 3D virtualization techniques to create a ‘digital twin’ of the ship. This reconstruction allowed scholars to virtually connect the fragmentary fragments, facilitating accurate measurement of its dimensions and clear reading of inscriptions that had been obscured by distortion.