Rare Roman suit of armour found at Caerleon

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Rare Roman suit of armour found at Caerleon


Archaeologists digging at a site in south Wales have uncovered an entire suit of Roman armour and some weapons.

The rare discovery was made during an excavation at the fortress of Caerleon in south Wales, one of Britain's best known Roman sites.

Dig leader Dr Peter Guest of Cardiff University said the suit was only the third or fourth to be found in the UK, and the first in Wales.

"It's very important for the study of Roman Britain," he said.

Dr Guest, senior lecturer in Roman archaeology at Cardiff's school of history, archaeology and religion, explained that a number of objects were first spotted last week on top of a floor in one room of a warehouse on the Priory Field site.

"We have been working on one of the rooms at the warehouse for six days," he explained.

"It's been a long, slow process of careful excavation but we are finally there now."

Dr Guest said the suit was found alongside a number of copper and bronze studs and hinges.

"It's in a pretty good condition considering Roman armour was usually made of iron and that does not survive very well in wet, cold soil like we have in Wales," he said.

"It's turned into rust but it still retains its outline."