Metal detector finds ancient Roman lantern

Sudbury - A Roman lantern believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain has been unearthed by a metal detecting enthusiast in Suffolk.

The unique artifact has been restored from its battered state, and can be seen in the Ipswich museum. The artifact was discovered by 21 year-old Danny Mills at a detecting rally near Sudbury in Suffolk, who reported the find to the owner who later donated the lantern to the regional museum. The conservator at the museum who restored the object said it was a very rare object and dates back to somewhere between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Archaeologists at the British Museum say they have only unearthed similar fragments in the past, and its closest double was found in Pompeii. Suffolk is known to have been dotted with Villas in 2nd Century and experts speculate that it could have been used by a rich landowner.