Archaeologists unearthed a Roman Empire-era “guardian spirit” sculpture that was hidden under an ancient military site in the English countryside for 1,600 years.
The sandstone figure was found in near-perfect condition during an excavation of barracks at the former Roman fortress Vindolanda in Northumberland near Hadrian’s Wall, according to Archaeology News.
The figure of the spirit – called a Genius by the Romans – was found June 16 under a flagstone slab, which has protected it from the elements for sixteen centuries.
No one knows why the relic was hidden there.
“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,” Dr. Andrew Birley, director of excavations, told the BBC.
“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.
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