GOLD BRACELET
Gold bracelet found in 20th century excavations
An intersection looking south towards Windermere. It would have been the area of the Roman vicus.
Gold bracelet found in 20th century excavations
Outside the walls of many Roman forts was a civilian settlement, or vicus. This was a thriving village where trade, craft and the daily life for the soldiers and their families would have taken place. Wives, children and local merchants and craftspeople were a vital part of the military community. It is increasingly clear to archaeologists that many of the activities of a fort, like industry and food production, depended at least in part on the people living outside its walls.​​
Among the Roman artefacts at The Armitt museum is a gold bracelet. It was found in the area of the vicus in the 1980s, during construction works to widen the modern road. Was this worn by someone living outside the fort?
Gold jewellery would have been a valuable possession, worn to show wealth or status. While gold bracelets had a long history in Britain all the way back to the Bronze Age, the Romans brought new styles of craftsmanship to jewellery. The twisted design seen in the bracelet was popular across the Empire.
Turn right at this crosswords onto the A593 and walk on the pavement along the side of the rugby field. At the end of the rugby field, turn left onto the country path next to the Woolly Rug Company. This is a very scenic part of the trail as you walk along the riverside and through the meadow; just follow the path forward. As you walk, to your left you will be able to see an old farmhouse in the field. Along this path is where the next artefact will be explored. The walking time is approximately seven-eight minutes.