Archaeologists have discovered a 1,800-year-old carved stone head, believed to be of a Roman God, in ancient trash. The discovery was made in Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, in County Durham, U.K.
The sandstone head measures about 20 cm by 10 cm (or 7.8 inches by 11 inches) and was found buried in an area considered to be an ancient bath house. The artifact is believed to be from 2nd or 3rd century AD, and probably depicts the Celtic deity, Antenociticus. The deity was most likely worshiped by the Romans as a "source of inspiration and intercession in military affairs."
"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," said Dr David Petts, Lecturer in Archaeology at Durham University, according to a news release. "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."
Dr David Mason, Principal Archaeologist with the site's owner, Durham County Council, said that many ancient Roman artifacts have been dug up from the site. And, although the head is similar to that of the Roman god, it is possible that the head belonged to a deity worshiped in Binchester.