By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Couple unearths ‘highly revered’ Ancient Roman rarity during volunteer dig at tourist site
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Couple unearths ‘highly revered’ Ancient Roman rarity during volunteer dig at tourist site
News

Couple unearths ‘highly revered’ Ancient Roman rarity during volunteer dig at tourist site

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: June 4, 2025 8:39 am
Jimmie Dempsey Published June 4, 2025
Share
SHARE

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Volunteers recently unearthed an ancient depiction of a Roman goddess while digging near a historic British landmark.

The sandstone carving was found at Vindolanda, a fort in Northumberland, near Hadrian’s Wall. In a May 21 press release, the Vindolanda Trust identified the depiction as Victoria, the goddess of victory in Roman mythology. 

The artifact was uncovered by Jim and Dilys Quinlan, a couple from Merseyside who have volunteered in countless excavations over the past two decades. The pair found the artifact in a pile of rubble near former infantry barracks.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH STRANGE HEAD DEPICTING ROMAN GOD BENEATH CATHOLIC BASILICA

Pictures show the proud volunteers smiling next to their discovery in the rubble pile. The organization said Victoria was the counterpart of the Greek goddess Nike, and was worshiped in Ancient Rome.

“Victoria was highly revered by the Ancient Romans. During times of war, she was often credited for battlefield success,” the statement read.

Hadrian’s Wall was built under the Ancient Romans, who successfully invaded Britain in 43 A.D. under Emperor Claudius. Previous attempts by Julius Caesar failed, and the Romans were able to establish long-lasting British settlements in the first century A.D. 

Under Emperor Hadrian, Hadrian’s Wall began construction in 122 A.D. to protect the northern border of the province of Brittania from the Picts, who lived in southern Scotland.

“It is highly likely that this stone would have originally been brightly painted.”

The barracks were built in 213 A.D., which was a “tumultuous time” due to the Severan wars ending shortly earlier, according to the Vindolanda Trust.

ANCIENT ROMAN HELMET TURNS UP IN UNUSUAL LOCATION: ‘EXCEPTIONALLY RARE’

“The barracks were once adorned with a large ornamental arch and gate, precisely the location where an inscription may have been present,” the statement noted.

Merseyside couple smiling near find

“The relief of Victory is poignant, representing the end of the war and the establishment of the fort at the site.”

Experts believe that the recently discovered stone was part of a significantly larger work, and may have been painted in vibrant colors.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

“It is highly likely that this stone would have originally been brightly painted,” Vindolanda Trust curator Barbara Birley observed. 

She added, “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.” 

Close-up of Victoria carving

In a statement, Vindolanda Trust director of excavations Andrew Birley said that similar finds from Roman Britain are “increasingly rare these days.”

“[T]he 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 expert noted.

Birley added, “I am also delighted for Jim and Dilys for their discovery. It is just reward for their 21 years of hard work and dedication to this site.”

The piece is set to go on display at the Vindolanda museum next year.

Hadrian's Wall wide shot

Due to the vast amount of influence the Ancient Romans had in the British Isles, Roman-era discoveries are not unheard of, to be sure. 

An archaeologist recently found an unusual eight-sided Ancient Roman ring in a former drainage ditch in Lincolnshire.

A few months earlier, a Roman grave filled with gypsum was found during a highway construction project in England.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Illinois homeschool bill would create a ‘pipeline to the criminal justice system for parents’: Dem lawmaker

SECRETARY OF THE ARMY DAN DRISCOLL: Army unveils modernization plan because, ‘No lobbyist ever won a war’

Ramaswamy officially launches gubernatorial campaign in Ohio: ‘Best days are still yet ahead’

JJ Spaun wins 2025 US Open with incredible back-nine capped by 64-foot birdie putt

Trump, world leaders react to the death of Pope Francis

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Coco Gauff stunned in straight sets in first round of Wimbledon less than a month after winning French Open
News

Coco Gauff stunned in straight sets in first round of Wimbledon less than a month after winning French Open

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
Democrats take page from conservative playbook with new Project 2029
Atomic Energy Chief: Iran’s Enriched Uranium May Have Moved
UPenn agrees to follow Trump’s mandate on protecting women’s sports, Education Department says
Former Green Berets seek justice in Texas killing of Afghan teammate
BIG Shortage INCOMING: 7 Calibers Every Gun Owner Should Stock in 2025!
Bucks waive All-Star Damian Lillard, agree to deal with Myles Turner: reports
News

Bucks waive All-Star Damian Lillard, agree to deal with Myles Turner: reports

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
This US paratrooper faced down 100 Nazis and two tanks… and won
Tactical

This US paratrooper faced down 100 Nazis and two tanks… and won

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests
News

Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?