Roman altar on display amid hopes for more digs

A Roman altar celebrating a soldier's safe return home is going on display amid hopes for more excavations at the site where it was found more than a decade ago.

The 1751-year-old artefact was discovered at Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, in 2013, and will be shown at the town's Faith Museum.

It dates to about AD 275 and was dedicated to Fortuna Redux - the Roman goddess of safe homecoming - by a retired military architect named Eltaominus.

Archaeology curator Dr John Castling said the altar gave a "rare insight into the life and beliefs of an individual who lived at Binchester" almost two millennia ago.

"Dedicating an altar to Fortuna Redux was a way of giving thanks for a safe homecoming, so behind the archaeology is a very relatable human story," Castling said.

"Eltaominus had returned from what may have been a difficult or dangerous journey and wanted to express his gratitude publicly."

Known to the Romans as Vinovia, Binchester was founded about AD 80 and became one of the largest Roman military installations in northern Britain.

Eltaominus had served with the Ala Vettonum cavalry unit based there and the altar's inscription suggests he considered Binchester his home.

It had originally been installed in a specially designed niche in the changing room of Binchester's bathhouse.

Offerings, including wine, spices, grain, or meat, may have been poured into a hollow in its top.

It was later discarded until its discovery during excavations carried out by Durham University between 2009 and 2017.

The artefact will be displayed at the Faith Museum at Auckland Palace from Wednesday.

There are ambitions to undertake further archaeological excavations to deepen the understanding of the site from 2028, the Auckland Project said.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen on BBC Sounds.