2 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

1,800-Year-Old Roman Victory Goddess Relief Discovered Near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda Fort

A rare and symbolically powerful Roman sandstone relief depicting Victoria, the goddess of Victory, has been unearthed at the Vindolanda Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall, marking a significant archaeological discovery that echoes the end of the Severan wars in Roman Britain.

The finely carved sandstone relief measures 47 cm in height, 28 cm in width, and 17 cm in depth, further suggesting it was once part of a substantial architectural feature, possibly framing a central inscription.

The intricately carved relief, believed to date to around AD 213, was discovered in a rubble layer above a former infantry barracks by long-serving excavation volunteers Jim and Dilys Quinlan from Merseyside. The couple, now in their 21st year of digging with the Vindolanda Trust, uncovered what is thought to be part of a larger commemorative monument once adorning a grand archway at the site.

Victoria, the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike, personified military success and was frequently venerated in the Roman Empire during and after periods of conflict. Her presence in this context is particularly poignant: the barracks beneath the find were constructed shortly after the conclusion of the Severan military campaigns, which had significantly reshaped Britain’s Roman frontier.

Jim and Dilys Quinlan uncovered the Victory relief during their 21st excavation season at Vindolanda. Credit: The Vindolanda Trust
Jim and Dilys Quinlan uncovered the Victory relief during their 21st excavation season at Vindolanda. Credit: The Vindolanda Trust

“Finds like this are increasingly rare these days from Roman Britain,” said Dr. Andrew Birley, Director of Excavations at the Vindolanda Trust. “The beautifully carved figure reminds us that Roman forts were not just functional military structures—they carried cultural and symbolic significance for the soldiers who lived there.”



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The relief is believed to have framed an inscribed panel that once stood as part of a monumental gate structure, possibly celebrating peace and stability after years of warfare.

Adding to the excitement, Barbara Birley, curator at the Vindolanda Trust, noted that the relief may have originally been painted in vivid colours, a practice common with Roman stone carvings. “We’re storing the piece unwashed for now,” she said, “as we begin detailed analysis to detect any traces of ancient pigment.”

Thanks to the expertise of Professor Rob Collins, Head of Archaeology at Newcastle University, the stone’s depiction of Victory has been formally identified and authenticated.

The relief is slated to go on public display in early 2026 as part of Vindolanda’s “Recent Finds” exhibition, promising to be a major highlight for visitors to this internationally renowned Roman site.

The Vindolanda Trust

Cover Image Credit: The Vindolanda Trust

Related Articles

Experts to uncover the secret of the monumental and three-dimensional Urartian statue found on Garibin Tepe

2 November 2024

2 November 2024

In an area where rescue excavations were conducted last year, archaeologists discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period...

Three Strange Skull Modifications Discovered in Viking Women

31 March 2024

31 March 2024

In recent years, research has provided evidence for permanent body modification in the Viking Age. The latest of these investigations...

Hundreds of oil lamps discovered in Aigai, “the City of Goats”

23 September 2023

23 September 2023

During the ongoing excavations in the Aigai Ancient City, located near the Yuntdağı Köseler Village of Manisa province in western...

First of Its Kind: 1,400-year-old Silla Crown Adorned with Jewel Beetle Wings Unearthed in South Korea

24 May 2025

24 May 2025

In a dazzling discovery blending nature and royalty, archaeologists in South Korea have unearthed a 1,400-year-old crown adorned with jewel...

In Parion, one of the most important cities of the Troas region, 2,000-year-old mother-child graves were unearthed

1 November 2022

1 November 2022

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Parion, the most important harbor city in the Hellenistic era, have uncovered  2,000-year-old...

East and West Meeting at the King’s Dinner Table

7 April 2021

7 April 2021

Researchers from Tezukayama University and the Uzbekistan Archaeological Institute reported that a food pantry about 37 feet long and 10...

Amateur makes ‘Gold Find of the Century’ in Norway

7 September 2023

7 September 2023

A Norwegian 51-year-old Erlend Bore out walking on doctors’ advice unearthed rare 6th-century gold jewellery using a newly bought metal...

1,400-year-old royal hall found in Suffolk, UK

5 October 2022

5 October 2022

Archaeologists, evidence of a 1,400-year-old royal Hall of the first Kings of East Anglia has been discovered in Rendlesham, Suffolk,...

A unique discovery in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, the city famous for its sculptors in the Roman World, “As if he were a breathing God”

30 July 2024

30 July 2024

A marble ‘Zeus head’ was found in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, located within the borders of the Geyre neighborhood...

Treasure hunters revealed a 2,700-year-old Urartian temple In the east of Turkey

18 June 2022

18 June 2022

Treasure hunters revealed a 2,700-year-old Urartian temple A group of treasure hunters, who were digging illegally to find treasure in...

Love and hate in ancient times: Exploring Magical Texts

6 February 2024

6 February 2024

Love and hate are universal emotions that have persisted throughout human history. Ancient civilizations developed their own distinct methods of...

A rare Saint George seal was found during excavations near Suzdal

27 June 2023

27 June 2023

The archaeological survey of the Suzdal Opole, initiated by the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences more...

Medieval Mummy Seized in Niğde, Türkiye, Amidst Smuggling Crackdown

12 March 2025

12 March 2025

Authorities in Türkiye have detained six individuals in the Bor district of Niğde, who were allegedly attempting to sell an...

2,000 Bronze Statue Fragments Found in Ancient Scrap Yard

20 January 2025

20 January 2025

Archaeologists in Izmir, Turkey have made an extraordinary discovery in the ancient city of Metropolis: Approximately 2,000 bronze statue fragments...

Researchers found evidence of the use of medicinal herbs in the Grotte des Pigeons Cave in Morocco dating back 15,000 years

5 November 2024

5 November 2024

Morocco’s National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage has announced an important discovery that will enhance our understanding of ancient healing...