Twelve-year-old Rowan Brannan’s routine walk with his mother and their dog in a Sussex field turned into an extraordinary adventure when he stumbled upon what appeared to be a mere piece of discarded strapping. Little did they know, the seemingly ordinary find was actually a remarkable relic from the past—a gold Roman bracelet dating back 2,000 years to the first century AD. Despite initial skepticism from his mother, Rowan’s curiosity and intuition led him to recognize the potential value of the object, eventually sparking a series of events that would unveil its true significance.
As the Brannan family embarked on the journey of unraveling the mystery behind the golden artifact, they were propelled into a world of archaeological intrigue and historical discovery. What began as a simple walk in the countryside transformed into a lesson in heritage and preservation. Through meticulous research and collaboration with experts, Rowan and his family learned about the bracelet’s classification as treasure, its journey through the legal process, and ultimately, its designation as an “exceptionally rare” Roman armilla bracelet by the British Museum. This unexpected brush with history not only enriched the Brannans’ lives but also ignited a passion for exploration and discovery in young Rowan—a spark that could potentially shape his future endeavors and perhaps even lead him down the path of a modern-day Indiana Jones.
