Hilt guard

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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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-837-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 147
• Date: Between 80 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Ivory
  
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Ivory hilt guard from Newstead
  
• References:
  • Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, p 315, Pl. LXXXIV, 4. 
• Translations:
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