Roman Memorial Stone, Hexham Abbey, Hexham, Northumberland
This is a Roman tomb stone. According to the inscription below it the man riding in triumph over his enemy is called Flavinus. He was was a SIGNIFER or standard-bearer in Candidus's troop of the ALA PETRIANA (the Petrian cavalry). He died at 25, after seven years of military service. Some of his army pay had gone to a regimental burial fund, and helped to provide this impressive tombstone, which probably stood once in the military cemetery near the fort of CORIA, now Corbridge. That was where the Petrian cavalry, originally from Gaul (northern France) was based, as the Roman empire extended its grip over the Tyne Valley in the years from 79AD. Find out more.
