‘Rare and special’ piece of Roman armour on display in Scotland for first time

The armour was discovered in over 100 pieces at the site of the Trimontium fort near Melrose in 1906.

A “rare and special” piece of Roman armour that was recently reconstructed from dozens of fragments has gone on display in its entirety for the first time in Scotland.

The brass arm guard, which dates from the middle of the second century, is the most intact example of its kind, and one of only three known from the whole Roman empire.

It was first discovered in more than 100 pieces at the site of the Trimontium fort near Melrose in 1906, and sections of it have previously been on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Trimintium Museum.

Close-up of the arm guard in a display case, with the purple-gloved hand of a member of museum staff visible next to it — The arm guard was originally thought to have been either body armour or a cavalryman’s thigh guard (Duncan McGlynn/PA)

The item then returned to Scotland, and on Wednesday it went on permanent display as part of the Early People Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Dr Fraser Hunter, principal curator of prehistoric and Roman archaeology at National Museums Scotland, said the item would have been both “a means of protection” and a “status symbol”.

“Brass armour like this would have been expensive and would have acted as both a means of protection and an eye-catching status symbol.

“The arm guard is displayed alongside a well-preserved section of iron body armour uncovered in the same building of the fort, and together they offer a tantalising glimpse into the life of a legionary in Roman Scotland.”

When it was first unearthed the arm guard was in “remarkably” good condition, with the remnants of leather straps still attached to the metal.

When worn it would have stretched down from the wearer’s shoulder and ended in a thin square of metal that would have protected their hand.

The arm guard, which was found in over 100 individual pieces, was in “remarkably” good condition, with the remnants of leather straps attached to some of the metal (Duncan McGlynn/PA)

Experts initially believed the arm guard would have been body armour, and it was later thought to be a thigh guard for a cavalryman.

It is only in recent years that its true function has been understood.

National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe, and it looks after collections of national and international importance.

The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally.