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1,740-year-old Roman coin bearing emperor’s name found as England rail dig reveals clues
Archaeologists working on the East West Rail project have uncovered a rare Roman coin and other artefacts dating back around 1,740 years during excavations in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, England. The find, announced by East West Rail on 1 July, offers fresh insight into Roman-era Britain and highlights how major infrastructure projects can unexpectedly uncover significant archaeological heritage.
The coin bears the name of the Roman emperor Carausius, who ruled a breakaway British and Gallic empire in the late third century. It was discovered as construction crews restore and build new rail links between Oxford and Cambridge, with archaeologists excavating a series of trenches across southern England ahead of and during construction work.
In short
- Rare 1,740-year-old Roman coin found during England rail excavation.
- Coin names emperor Carausius, discovered in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
- Find announced by East West Rail on 1 July.
Explained simply
The East West Rail project is building new railway links between Oxford and Cambridge across southern England. During construction work in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, archaeologists have discovered a rare Roman coin and other finds dating back approximately 1,740 years.
The coin bears the name of Carausius, a Roman emperor who ruled a breakaway empire covering parts of Britain and Gaul in the late third century. Coins from this ruler are uncommon archaeological finds, making this discovery valuable for understanding that period of Roman history.
Large infrastructure projects like railways often uncover archaeological treasures from ancient times, providing unexpected insights into how people lived centuries ago. The coin and other artefacts from this dig contribute to our knowledge of Roman-era Britain and show how construction work can reveal historical evidence.