A NEWPORT man was delighted after uncovering rare treasure almost 2,000 years old while metal detecting in Langstone.

Craig Mills, 35, was scouring fields on 19 December 2007 when he came across two Iron Age bronze bowls and a bronze wine strainer, which were yesterday pronounced as treasure.

Mr Mills, who lives in Langstone, reported the items to the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon following the find.

He said he got the bug for metal detecting after finding a couple of silver coins and kept it up as a hobby, and was amazed when he found the items, but didn't know what they were.

“I was just so excited. I showed them to the landowner shortly afterwards and we decided we should report them to the experts."

The bowls and strainer were made around 25-60 AD and, as with similar objects from that time period, were buried as a religious offering.

It is thought the artefacts were buried between AD 47 and 75 at the edge of a bog or lake during the time of the Roman army's campaign against the Iron Age Silures tribe of South Wales.

Both bowls are almost complete and have decorated fittings and rings to hang them.

The strainer also has a similar ring and the decoration on all three is a late Celtic, or La Tène, style of the late Iron Age.

Mr Mills, a security guard, also discovered a wooden and bronze tankard, which was not deemed to be treasure.

The tankard was given to the National Museum Wales which is also trying to acquire the bowls and strainer following an independent valuation with a view to displaying them as part of Origins: In Search of Early Wales exhibition next year.

Curator of the Iron Age Collections at the National Museum Wales, Adam Gwilt, said the fact all three items were “virtually complete” was significant.

"This discovery is of great importance for Wales and the UK. We have been able to investigate the whole find site with Craig, which is quite a rarity."

The three pieces will now be taken to London and appraised by the Treasure Evaluation Committee to establish a value. Mr Gwilt said that once a figure is agreed it will be split between Mr Mills and the landowner.

Axe discovery to be donated

A FRAGMENT of a late Bronze Age axe discovered in Gwent, thought to be around 3,000 years old, was also declared as treasure yesterday.

The piece of a socketed axe head, around 20 percent of the original, which dated between 1,150 and 750 BC, was found in Llanhennock by Arthur Reynolds on July 15 last year.

It was found a few metres from a previously reported hoard consisting if an axe blade and fragments of a casting jet, which had also been declared as treasure.

Both Mr Reynolds and the landowner waived any claim to a reward and the fragment was donated to Monmouthshire Council's museum service.