1,900-year-old souvenir cup featuring Hadrian's Wall and Roman forts discovered in Spain
A 1,900-year-old bronze cup depicting Hadrian's Wall and Roman forts was discovered in Berlanga de Duero, Spain, likely serving as a memento for a Roman soldier. The cup, known as the Berlanga Cup, features enameled designs and an inscription referencing four eastern forts along Hadrian's Wall. Researchers believe it was made near the Wall between A.D. 124 and 199 and later brought to Spain, possibly by a veteran. Its design suggests it symbolized camaraderie rather than military achievement.
- ▪The Berlanga Cup is a small, hemispheric bronze vessel with colorful enamel and a Latin inscription naming four forts on Hadrian's Wall.
- ▪It was found in four pieces in central Spain, about 1,200 miles from Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
- ▪Analysis shows the cup was made with lead likely sourced from northern England, indicating local production near the Wall.
- ▪The cup may have been brought to Spain by a veteran of the Cohors I Celtiberorum, a Roman auxiliary unit of Hispanic origin stationed at Hadrian's Wall.
- ▪Published in the journal Britannia on April 23, 2026, the study highlights the cup as the only known example referencing forts on the eastern side of Hadrian's Wall.
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Archaeology Romans 1,900-year-old souvenir cup featuring Hadrian's Wall and Roman forts discovered in Spain News By Kristina Killgrove published 28 April 2026 Archaeologists think a broken bronze cup found in Spain was made for a soldier as a memento of his time stationed at Hadrian's Wall in England. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The Berlanga Cup was found in four pieces. (Image credit: Roberto De Pablo) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A chance discovery of a broken bronze cup in Spain has revealed a 1,900-year-old depiction of Hadrian's Wall and forts in…
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