Missing Link Cupid find connects site to Romans
ARCHAEOLOGISTS carrying out survey work for the A417 Missing Link in Gloucestershire have found a Cupid figurine believed to be almost 2,000 years old.
The figurine depicting the Roman god of love was discovered along with a bow-shaped brooch, inset, and a Roman or early Saxon skeleton.
Highways England described the discovery of a Cupid figurine as a “rare find”. It said there were fewer than 50 known in the UK, and it was one of only three that had been found as part of an archaeological dig rather than by metal detectorists.
The bronze figurine has wings and is holding a flaming torch. It was discovered in a charcoal deposit, suggesting it could be an offering to the gods.
All the finds have been made in early survey work for the £435 million A417 Missing Link – a 3.4-mile dual carriageway on the route that connects the M4 at Swindon to the M5 in Gloucestershire. A total of 335 trenches were dug in fields around the route over four months to try to find out more about what life was like on the site during Roman times.
Mel Barge, inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said: “We have been advising Highways England on this proposed road scheme alongside the county council heritage team. The Cupid statue is a rare and exciting find. It will tell us about the lives and beliefs of the small Roman community that lived alongside this road 2,000 years ago.”
Jim Keyte, archaeology lead for the project, said: “The area of the project is rich in history, and the existing A417 largely follows the former Roman road between Cirencester and Gloucester. Birdlip itself has its origins as a Roman settlement. It has been fascinating to reveal more about the area and the people who once lived here. Our investigations will continue.”
The Missing Link scheme is located within a rich archaeological landscape. Highways England said the land was intensely used during the later Iron Age and Romano-british periods, with a major Roman road and a number of Iron Age and Roman sites recorded across the wider area.
In a statement, it said: “While the most significant find was the figurine of Cupid, the brooch discovered at the same settlement also gives an insight into daily life as a Roman, who would have used the brooch to fasten their cloak to keep out the wind that still blows strongly across the landscape. The brooch is ornate and shaped like an archer’s bow – it’s likely that the owner would have been quite wealthy.
“The skeleton has proved a little more unique. Oriented north to south, archaeologists consider that it is unlikely to be Christian, meaning the remains date to either before fourth century Roman or early Saxon (5th-7th century).
“Researchers were also baffled by the fact the remains were buried face down, potentially suggesting the mystery person was not well liked – for instance, a criminal.”
The skeleton will be left in situ and not studied further.
The Cupid statue is a rare and exciting find. It will tell us about the lives and beliefs of the small Roman community Mel Barge