It is thought to invite wealth and security
A remarkably well-preserved Roman statue, deliberately buried some 1,600 years ago, has been unearthed close to Hadrian’s Wall.
The 1.5ft-high sandstone figure depicts a ‘protective spirit’ or ‘genius’, used as a shrine to attract security and prosperity. Unearthed at Vindolanda Fort near Hexham, Northumberland, the statue was concealed beneath the floor of a barrack building.
Archaeologist Dr Andrew Birley stumbled upon the “incredibly rare” Roman Genius – the first found at the site – during an excavation on June 16. He said: “I was completely unprepared for what I found on the other side of this stone.
“My first thought was simply, ‘Who on earth am I looking at?’ Thankfully, Hadrian’s Wall is home to an incredible community of generous and knowledgeable scholars.
“The unanimous response came back within hours: we had uncovered a previously unknown relief of a Genius – the protective spirit of a place.” The figure clutches a cornucopia, representing abundance and prosperity, alongside a patera, a shallow dish traditionally used in ritual offerings.
It was located beneath the floor of the fort’s fourth-century infantry barrack, which itself was constructed atop an earlier military structure.
While inscriptions dedicated to a Genius are fairly commonplace throughout Roman Britain, reflecting the widespread reverence for these protective spirits, carved stone reliefs that have survived intact remain considerably rare. Dr Birley went on to say: “As archaeologists, moments like these are incredibly rare, and we feel privileged to have uncovered and preserved such an important part of the site’s story.”
The sculpture is currently being restored and will eventually be exhibited at the on-site museum for the public to enjoy.
