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| Archaeologists find ancient stone head which could be Roman Geordie god | Archaeologists find ancient stone head which could be Roman Geordie god |
| (3 months later) | |
| An 1,800-year-old carved stone head of a possible Geordie Roman god has been discovered buried in an ancient rubbish dump. | An 1,800-year-old carved stone head of a possible Geordie Roman god has been discovered buried in an ancient rubbish dump. |
| The discovery was made by a first-year archaeology student at Binchester Roman fort, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, as the team dug through an old bath house. | The discovery was made by a first-year archaeology student at Binchester Roman fort, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, as the team dug through an old bath house. |
| The 20cm sandstone head, which dates from the second or third century AD, is similar to the Celtic deity Antenociticus, thought to have been worshipped locally as a source of inspiration in war. | The 20cm sandstone head, which dates from the second or third century AD, is similar to the Celtic deity Antenociticus, thought to have been worshipped locally as a source of inspiration in war. |
| A similar head, complete with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus, was found at Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1862. | A similar head, complete with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus, was found at Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1862. |
| Dr David Petts, a lecturer in archaeology at Durham University, said: "We found the Binchester head close to where a small Roman altar was found two years ago. | Dr David Petts, a lecturer in archaeology at Durham University, said: "We found the Binchester head close to where a small Roman altar was found two years ago. |
| "We think it may have been associated with a small shrine in the bath house and dumped after the building fell out of use, probably in the fourth century AD. | "We think it may have been associated with a small shrine in the bath house and dumped after the building fell out of use, probably in the fourth century AD. |
| "It is probably the head of a Roman god – we can't be sure of his name, but it does have similarities to the head of Antenociticus found at Benwell in the 19th century. | "It is probably the head of a Roman god – we can't be sure of his name, but it does have similarities to the head of Antenociticus found at Benwell in the 19th century. |
| "Antenociticus is one of a number of gods known only from the northern frontier, a region which seems to have had a number of its own deities. | "Antenociticus is one of a number of gods known only from the northern frontier, a region which seems to have had a number of its own deities. |
| "It's possibly a Geordie god, though it could have been worshipped at the other end of the wall." | "It's possibly a Geordie god, though it could have been worshipped at the other end of the wall." |
| Antenociticus is not mentioned at any other Romano-British site or on any inscriptions from Europe, which is why it has been identified as a local deity. | Antenociticus is not mentioned at any other Romano-British site or on any inscriptions from Europe, which is why it has been identified as a local deity. |
| Alex Kirton, 19, from Hertfordshire, who found the head, said: "As an archaeology student this is one of the best things and most exciting things that could have happened. | Alex Kirton, 19, from Hertfordshire, who found the head, said: "As an archaeology student this is one of the best things and most exciting things that could have happened. |
| "It was an incredible thing to find in a lump of soil in the middle of nowhere – I've never found anything remotely exciting as this." | "It was an incredible thing to find in a lump of soil in the middle of nowhere – I've never found anything remotely exciting as this." |
| The find was made as part of a five-year project at Binchester Roman fort which is attempting to shed new light on the twilight years of the Roman empire. | The find was made as part of a five-year project at Binchester Roman fort which is attempting to shed new light on the twilight years of the Roman empire. |
| The dig is a joint project between Durham University's archaeology department, Stanford University's archaeology centre, the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, and the site owner, Durham county council. | The dig is a joint project between Durham University's archaeology department, Stanford University's archaeology centre, the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, and the site owner, Durham county council. |
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