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| Rare artefact found at Roman site | Rare artefact found at Roman site |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Archaeologists excavating one of the most important Roman sites in Britain have made an "extremely rare" find. | Archaeologists excavating one of the most important Roman sites in Britain have made an "extremely rare" find. |
| The team digging at part of the Roman fortress in Caerleon near Newport found what they believe is a legionnaire's ceremonial standard. | The team digging at part of the Roman fortress in Caerleon near Newport found what they believe is a legionnaire's ceremonial standard. |
| Dr Peter Guest said he thought the iron flag, broken into three pieces, was the first of its type found in the UK. | Dr Peter Guest said he thought the iron flag, broken into three pieces, was the first of its type found in the UK. |
| He also believed it was likely to have belonged to a high-ranking commander who was "not to be tampered with". | |
| A legionnaire would carry a long staff bearing the 45cm standard. | A legionnaire would carry a long staff bearing the 45cm standard. |
| Dr Guest, of Cardiff University, said: "It's a very unusual find and there's not more than a dozen of them. | Dr Guest, of Cardiff University, said: "It's a very unusual find and there's not more than a dozen of them. |
| "I don't know of any of that type in Britain. | "I don't know of any of that type in Britain. |
| "There are a few at fortresses and forts around the Rhine and Danube, the frontiers of the Roman Empire." | "There are a few at fortresses and forts around the Rhine and Danube, the frontiers of the Roman Empire." |
| The standard would probably have featured some type of decoration such as plumes, which indicated that the carrier was no ordinary soldier. | The standard would probably have featured some type of decoration such as plumes, which indicated that the carrier was no ordinary soldier. |
| He would probably have been on special assignment, perhaps with the legion's commander or other high-ranking member of the Roman government in Britain. | He would probably have been on special assignment, perhaps with the legion's commander or other high-ranking member of the Roman government in Britain. |
| The standard was found by a team working at the fortress to try to find out more about what could be a 2,000-year-old warehouse. | The standard was found by a team working at the fortress to try to find out more about what could be a 2,000-year-old warehouse. |
| A large trench has been opened over the building, which is thought to have supplied the Roman legion. | A large trench has been opened over the building, which is thought to have supplied the Roman legion. |
| The building was discovered during surveys and trial excavations last year. | The building was discovered during surveys and trial excavations last year. |
| Caerleon was the main administrative centre for the Roman army in Wales by 74 AD and is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain. | Caerleon was the main administrative centre for the Roman army in Wales by 74 AD and is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain. |
| • Site tours take place at 1100 and 1430 BST daily (except Saturdays). | • Site tours take place at 1100 and 1430 BST daily (except Saturdays). |