Capital (detail)

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A capital is the top of a column. This is a detail of a carving on a sandstone capital supporting an arch, found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It dates from between 80 and 180 AD.

A boar has been carved in relief on the roughly finished capital. The boar was the emblem of the 20th Legion which was stationed at Newstead.

Most buildings within Roman forts were built of timber with wattle and daub walls. Stone was used, however, for important buildings and the bath house. The Roman army also introduced a range of new materials such as plaster, mortar and cement.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-037-462-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 1604
• Date: Between 80 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Sandstone, red; roughly chamfered; diamond dressing; lewis hole in top of block; relief carving of a boar
  Capital, impost
  
• Dimensions: 380 mm H x 670 mm L x 490 mm W
  
• What: Capital, impost
  
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Impost capital, roughly finished, with lewis hole in top of block and a relief carving of a boar, from Newstead
  
• References:
  • Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, 144. 
• Translations:
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