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Head of 'Geordie Roman god' found at Binchester | Head of 'Geordie Roman god' found at Binchester |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A 1,800-year-old carved stone head of a possible Roman god has been found in an ancient rubbish dump in County Durham. | A 1,800-year-old carved stone head of a possible Roman god has been found in an ancient rubbish dump in County Durham. |
The discovery was made at Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, as a team dug through an old bath house. | The discovery was made at Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, as a team dug through an old bath house. |
The 20cm sandstone head, from the 2nd or 3rd century, is similar to Celtic deity Antenociticus, thought to have been worshipped locally in war time. | The 20cm sandstone head, from the 2nd or 3rd century, is similar to Celtic deity Antenociticus, thought to have been worshipped locally in war time. |
A similar head with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus, was found in Newcastle, in 1862. | A similar head with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus, was found in Newcastle, in 1862. |
The find, by first year archaeology student, Alex Kirton from Hertfordshire, 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. | |
Small shrine | Small shrine |
Dr David Petts, 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, 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 4th 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 4th 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. |
The dig is a joint project between Durham University's Department of Archaeology, site owner Durham County Council, Stanford University's Archaeology Centre and the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland. | The dig is a joint project between Durham University's Department of Archaeology, site owner Durham County Council, Stanford University's Archaeology Centre and the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland. |
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