Slab with inscription

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Slab with inscription

Entry/Object ID

L.2021.24

Description

Portion of a sandstone slab with the lettering 'IVS III' 'LEG XX'.

Use

Would have been used as an identification of the Twentieth Legion's presence at Trimontium.

Context

Discovered on the upper levels of the pit at Principia, this slab was found during the initial excavation by James Curle.

Collection

National Museums Scotland

Category

Slab
Inscriptions

Acquisition

Accession

X. FRA 1605

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums Scotland

Notes

Loan

Made/Created

Time Period

1st - 2nd century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano British

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Center of slab

Transcription

'IVS III' 'LEG XX'

Language

Latin

Translation

Refers to the 20th legion, one of the four legions that originally invaded Britain in AD43.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Sign, Informational

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sign

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Visual Communication Devices

Nomenclature Class

Visual Communication T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

ND, PLXVIII9

Material

Sandstone

Color

Tan

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Web Links and URLs

James Curle's note of the slab on page 142-144

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

This fragmentary inscription from the fort preserves the lettering LEG XX. This refers to the 20th legion, one of the four legions that originally invaded Britain in AD43 and was subsequently based at Chester. For a period, a detachment of this legion was garrisoned at Trimontium.