Roman emperor statue once stood in southern Scotland

Archaeologists at National Museums Scotland have identified a large bronze leg as part of a statue of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius that once stood in the Scottish Borders.

For over a century, researchers believed the bronze piece found in a bog near Hawick in 1820 was loot taken from a site further south, such as York. New research suggests the sculpture was actually erected in Scotland to commemorate the emperor's conquest of the region.

Fraser Hunter, the principal curator of prehistoric and Roman archaeology at National Museums Scotland, says this discovery changes the understanding of Rome's second attempt to conquer Scotland. The sculpture likely depicted Antoninus Pius on horseback, similar to a statue of his successor, Marcus Aurelius, in Rome. Experts believe the Romans carefully dismantled and buried the statue as they withdrew from southern Scotland rather than locals destroying it in anger.

The lower leg and boot date back to about AD140 and show no signs of being hacked off, suggesting a deliberate removal. The absence of gilding near the knee indicates the figure wore a tunic or cloak. This find provides evidence of the grand monuments the Romans used to celebrate victories. National Museums Scotland will display the reconstructed leg in an exhibition in Edinburgh starting in November.