The Lancaster tombstone is iconic, dramatic and immediate evidence of the Romans in Britian - and a remarkable new discovery from the world of archaeology. It gives us, in one image, and a brief inscription, the story of an auxiliary cavalryman, of German origins, fighting in the North West of England. Insus was a 'Curator' with his unit and is depicted in full equipment, on a stallion, triumphant over a fallen 'barbarian'. The stone lay buried in Lancaster for two thousand years before discovery in 2005. Following painstaking conservation and reassembly of broken parts it is now the centrepiece of the Roman gallery in Lancaster City Museum, part of Lancashire County Museum Service.
Lancaster Roman Cavalry Tombstone
Contributed by Lancaster Museum
Most of the content on A History of the World is created by the contributors, who are the museums and members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC or the British Museum. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site’s House Rules please Flag This Object.
About this object
Click a button to explore other objects in the timeline
- Location
- Culture
- Period
-
c. 75-100 AD
- Theme
- Size
-
- H:
- 180cm
- W:
- 97cm
- D:
- 17cm
- Colour
- Material
View more objects from people in Lancashire.

Share this link:
What's this?