Rare Roman statue discovered under barracks floor

By Nathan Pynn

A perfectly preserved Roman statue that was deliberately buried 1,600 years ago has been unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall.

The 1.5-foot-high figure carved from sandstone is a "protective spirit" or "genius" displayed as a shrine to invoke security and wealth.

The statue was discovered at Vindolanda Fort near Hexham, Northumberland, hidden under a barracks floor.

Archaeologist Dr. Andrew Birley came across the “incredibly rare” Roman Genius — the first found at the site — during a dig 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 is holding a cornucopia, symbolizing abundance and prosperity, and a patera, a shallow dish used in ritual offerings.

It was found beneath the floor of the fort’s fourth-century infantry barracks building, which was built on an earlier military structure.

While inscriptions dedicated to a Genius are relatively common across Roman Britain, reflecting the widespread worship of these protective spirits, surviving carved stone reliefs are comparatively rare.

Dr. Birley added, "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 now undergoing conservation and will go on public display in the on-site museum.