A bronze ear thought to have broken off from a Roman statue has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was lost.
The three-inch long fragment, which is among the oldest relics of its kind ever uncovered in Britain, was discovered by a metal detectorist in a field near Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today.
Detailed bronze EAR lost from a Roman statue crafted 1,800 years ago is unearthed in North Yorkshire
Ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, experts say
Dere Street is an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today
Three-inch fragment was found by a metal detectorist in Catterick
The Roman relic will be sold tomorrow for an estimated £300
By Daisy Dunne For Mailonline
30 March 2017
A bronze ear thought to have broken off from a Roman statue has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was lost.
The three-inch long fragment, which is among the oldest relics of its kind ever uncovered in Britain, was discovered by a metal detectorist in a field near Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today.
A three-inch long bronze ear (pictured), thought to have broken off from a Roman statue, has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was lost
The detectorist documented the find with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a recorder of archaeological objects found by members of the public.
The organisation confirmed that the bronze ear dates back to 200AD, the time of the early Roman Empire.
Mark Jones, an auctioneer at Tennants Auctions of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, said: 'This is an incredibly rare and unusual full size ear dating all the way back to the early Roman Empire.
'The level of craftsmanship is very high, which would indicate it came from a larger piece like a life size statue.
'What I find to be particularly exciting about the find is that its emergence indicates there was indeed such a sculpture of such grand scale on these shores at that time.
'There is of course the possibility someone brought this back with them from Rome but in all likelihood it came from a statue. '
The ear was dug up in the village of Brompton-on-Swale, close to Roman fort and settlement Cataractonium, today known as Catterick.
Finds during the excavations at Cataractonium include a complete Roman bowl called a mortaria (pictured), which was used for grinding herbs and spices
Mr Jones added: 'There's much intrigue as to how something like this would come to be buried in Brompton-on-Swale and, while we never know, it's interesting to theorise.
'Due to the unique nature of the item we placed a conservative estimate on it, but I'd expect it to do far better.
'How much better I'm not sure but something this old is always likely to turn heads.'
The Roman relic will be sold tomorrow for an estimated £300.
The ear was found near Dere Street, which was built by the Romans and runs alongside the modern A1.
Roman glass from a drinking vessel was also uncovered near Cataractonium. Finds preceding the glass by thousands of years were additionally discovered nearby
The ear was dug up in the village of Brompton-on-Swale, close to Roman fort and settlement Cataractonium, today known as Catterick
Experts have previously dug up a Roman town located by the road near to the River Swale, called Cataractonium.
They have so far discovered evidence of Iron Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements.
Steve Sherlock, an archaeologist who has excavated the road, said: ‘The road scheme is 12 miles long and we are investigating a number of different sites.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street (pictured), an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today
The Roman road of Dere Street at Esh Winning, County Durham
Storing olives on Dere Street; Tacuinum Sanitatis,14th century
‘It was fascinating to find that one of those was in fact a Mesolithic site, a further 8,000 years into the past, beyond the Romans.
‘We are still finding extremely clear evidence of how people used to live here almost 2,000 years ago during the Roman period.’
The team has discovered buildings on the edge of Dere Street, including shop frontages and even a bath house.
‘We think this was a particularly industrial part of the town,’ Mr Sherlock said.
‘Finds during the excavations have included a complete Roman bowl called a Mortaria used for grinding herbs and spices.
'Another was Roman glass from a drinking vessel, found in Cataractonium.’
Read more: Ear from a Roman statue found in North Yorkshire | Daily Mail Online
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The three-inch long fragment, which is among the oldest relics of its kind ever uncovered in Britain, was discovered by a metal detectorist in a field near Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today.
Detailed bronze EAR lost from a Roman statue crafted 1,800 years ago is unearthed in North Yorkshire
Ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, experts say
Dere Street is an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today
Three-inch fragment was found by a metal detectorist in Catterick
The Roman relic will be sold tomorrow for an estimated £300
By Daisy Dunne For Mailonline
30 March 2017
A bronze ear thought to have broken off from a Roman statue has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was lost.
The three-inch long fragment, which is among the oldest relics of its kind ever uncovered in Britain, was discovered by a metal detectorist in a field near Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street, an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today.
A three-inch long bronze ear (pictured), thought to have broken off from a Roman statue, has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was lost
The detectorist documented the find with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a recorder of archaeological objects found by members of the public.
The organisation confirmed that the bronze ear dates back to 200AD, the time of the early Roman Empire.
Mark Jones, an auctioneer at Tennants Auctions of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, said: 'This is an incredibly rare and unusual full size ear dating all the way back to the early Roman Empire.
'The level of craftsmanship is very high, which would indicate it came from a larger piece like a life size statue.
'What I find to be particularly exciting about the find is that its emergence indicates there was indeed such a sculpture of such grand scale on these shores at that time.
'There is of course the possibility someone brought this back with them from Rome but in all likelihood it came from a statue. '
The ear was dug up in the village of Brompton-on-Swale, close to Roman fort and settlement Cataractonium, today known as Catterick.
Finds during the excavations at Cataractonium include a complete Roman bowl called a mortaria (pictured), which was used for grinding herbs and spices
Mr Jones added: 'There's much intrigue as to how something like this would come to be buried in Brompton-on-Swale and, while we never know, it's interesting to theorise.
'Due to the unique nature of the item we placed a conservative estimate on it, but I'd expect it to do far better.
'How much better I'm not sure but something this old is always likely to turn heads.'
The Roman relic will be sold tomorrow for an estimated £300.
The ear was found near Dere Street, which was built by the Romans and runs alongside the modern A1.
Roman glass from a drinking vessel was also uncovered near Cataractonium. Finds preceding the glass by thousands of years were additionally discovered nearby
The ear was dug up in the village of Brompton-on-Swale, close to Roman fort and settlement Cataractonium, today known as Catterick
Experts have previously dug up a Roman town located by the road near to the River Swale, called Cataractonium.
They have so far discovered evidence of Iron Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements.
Steve Sherlock, an archaeologist who has excavated the road, said: ‘The road scheme is 12 miles long and we are investigating a number of different sites.
Experts believe the ear broke off from a statue being transported along Dere Street (pictured), an ancient Roman road that runs parallel to the A1 today
The Roman road of Dere Street at Esh Winning, County Durham
Storing olives on Dere Street; Tacuinum Sanitatis,14th century
‘It was fascinating to find that one of those was in fact a Mesolithic site, a further 8,000 years into the past, beyond the Romans.
‘We are still finding extremely clear evidence of how people used to live here almost 2,000 years ago during the Roman period.’
The team has discovered buildings on the edge of Dere Street, including shop frontages and even a bath house.
‘We think this was a particularly industrial part of the town,’ Mr Sherlock said.
‘Finds during the excavations have included a complete Roman bowl called a Mortaria used for grinding herbs and spices.
'Another was Roman glass from a drinking vessel, found in Cataractonium.’
Read more: Ear from a Roman statue found in North Yorkshire | Daily Mail Online
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