The initial dig revealed what they thought was an old Coke can but on closer inspection, it happened to be one of the most important Roman archaeological finds in British history.
Lost approximately 1800 years ago, this second century bronze trulla vessel is thought to have been a retirement gift for a Roman soldier called Aelius Draco. It’s since been exhibited in museums and although it’s priceless in terms of antiquity value, it is unknown whether Blackburn and Lee received payment for their find.
This pan (trulla) is made of copper alloy, with Celtic-style ornament inlaid with turquoise, blue, red and yellow-coloured enamel. The handle and base are missing. Below the rim is an enamel-inlaid inscription which encircles the pan: MAIS (Bowness-on-Solway) COGGABATA (Drumburgh) VXELODVNVM (Stanwix) CAMMOGLANNA (Castlesteads) RIGORE VALI AELI DRACONIS. The four names are forts in the western sector of Hadrian's Wall.
The part of the inscription which reads RIGORE VALI AELI DRACONIS is very significant but more difficult to interpret. 'Rigore vali' seems to be a direct reference to Hadrian's Wall, for in Roman times it was known as 'the vallum'. 'Aeli' may also belong with that phrase, specifying 'the wall of Hadrian', for Aelius was Hadrian's family name. Alternatively, 'Aeli' could belong with the word 'Draco', forming the personal name Aelius Draco (or Dracon). He may have been a soldier who had the pan made as a souvenir of his military service on the Wall.
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