Amateur Archaeologists Found an 1,800-Year-Old Carving of an Ancient Goddess
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story:
Amateur archaeologists uncovered a sandstone relief of the Roman goddess of victory in Northumberland.
The find occurred in a pile of rubble at the famed Roman fort Vindolanda.
Dated to about 213 A.D., the find could be just one piece of an even larger relief.
A pair of married volunteer archaeologists working at the Vindolanda archaeological site near Northumberland recently scored a big win. Jim and Dilys Quinlan discovered a sandstone relief—a sculpture that remains attached to a solid background—of Victoria (the Roman goddess of victory) amidst the rubble of what was once a Roman infantry barracks.
The Vindolanda site, which was active in roughly 213 A.D., after the end of the Severan wars, was once outfitted with ornamental arches and gates—any of which could have been the original position of the newfound relief.
'Finds like this are increasingly rare these days from Roman Britain,' Andrew Birley, director of excavations for the Vindolanda Trust, said in a statement, 'but the beautifully carved figure vividly reminds us that Roman forts were not simply utilitarian, they had grandeur and, of course, the symbolism was a vital part of the culture here for the soldiers almost 2,000 years ago.'
The excitement is greatest for the Quinlans, as they spent 21 years volunteering at the site before uncovering the artifact. 'We've spent the vast majority of our annual leave at Vindolanda over the years,' Dilys told the Guardian. 'As veteran diggers, it is without a doubt the most wonderful thing we've ever done and, importantly, it's something we do as a couple. It's the best form of relaxation that we know of. We eat well, sleep well, we're in good company, and there's always more to learn. What more could you ask for?'
Barbara Birley, the Vindolanda Trust's curator, said in a statement that Roman reliefs such as the one just found were often painted with vibrant colors, and 'it is highly likely that this stone would have originally been brightly painted. We will be working with our specialists to see if any traces of the pigment remain, so for now the relief is being stored unwashed, ready for that further analysis.'
The find occurred near Hadrian's Wall. At over 18 inches tall, the carving may have been crafted to symbolize an end to local wars, and could have been a piece of a larger design—possibly one side of a larger, multi-sided relief.
'There is that sense of palpable excitement when you turn over the 2,000th piece of Roman rubble and you see on the other side the face of a goddess staring right back at you,' Andrew Birley said. 'What you get there is a direct connection. It's almost like you're toughing the past and all those years melt way, which is just wonderful.
'I am also delighted for Jim and Dilys for their discovery,' Andrew Birley said. 'It is just reward for their 21 years of hard work and dedication to this site.'
Following analysis, the trust plans to display the relief in 2026 at the Vindolanda Museum. The Greeks may have their goddess Nike, but the folks at Vindolanda—especially the Quinlans—will happily take the Roman victory.
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