In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists have uncovered a sculpture from the Roman Empire, believed to be a “guardian spirit,” which lay hidden beneath an ancient military site in the English countryside for 1,600 years.
This well-preserved sandstone figure was recently discovered during an excavation of the barracks at Vindolanda, a site of a former Roman fortress located near Northumberland’s Hadrian’s Wall, as reported by Archaeology News.
Identified as a “Genius,” a protective spirit revered by the Romans, the sculpture was unearthed on June 16, having been shielded from the elements by a flagstone slab for over a millennium and a half.
The reasons behind its concealment remain a mystery to archaeologists.
Dr. Andrew Birley, director of excavations, expressed the significance of this find to the BBC, stating, “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.”
“It was almost as though Vindolanda itself had reached out to the team and quietly said: ‘We approve of what you are doing,’” Birley said.
Birley initially did not know who or what the sculpture was, but Hadrian’s Wall scholars identified it as a protective spirit called a Genius by the Romans.
The figure is holding in one hand a cornucopia overflowing with food – a symbol of prosperity, the report said.
On the other hand, it holds a dish for offerings, the BBC said.
The sculpture is believed to have been carved locally and is currently under a detailed examination before it can go on public display in the on-site museum in Hexham.
The Vindolanda Charitable Trust believes the mysterious figure could offer insight into the lives and religious beliefs of soldiers stationed at the fortress in the Fourth Century.