from Newstead, Roxburghshire
This bone hilt guard for a sword was found during excavations at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It belonged to a member of the auxiliary cavalry between 80 and 180 AD.
The guard is semicircular in shape, with a slot for the blade.
There were two classes of Roman soldiers: the elite legionary and the ordinary auxiliary soldier, each with its own type of equipment. Auxiliary troops were recruited from the populations of conquered countries. As a result, their equipment varied widely.
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