Roman dagger uncovered by teenage archaeologist on work experience is restored to former glory
A 2,000-year-old Roman dagger that was unearthed by a teenager on work experience has been spectacularly restored to its former glory.
The ancient weapon is thought to have been used during a battle by a soldier from the Roman legion fighting a Germanic tribe in the 1st century.
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It was discovered by 19-year-old Nico Calman in a trench at a burial ground in Haltern am See, near Munster, in north-west Germany, last year.
This week in #Archaeology: a roman dagger found in Germany by a work experience archaeologist has been restored to it's original condition after 9 months of restoration work. it's believed to have been used in action by a legionary fighting a Germanic tribe in the 1st century. pic.twitter.com/sOpfeCF0t3
— Amar (@iiskaander) February 18, 2020
When it was originally discovered, the blade was covered in a thick layer of rust from 2,000 years of being buried.
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But the iron dagger is now back to its best following a painstaking nine-month process to restore it and is set to go on display with the belt it was discovered alongside.
Michael Rind, director of archaeology at the Westphalia-Lippe council, said: “This combination of a completely preserved blade, sheath and belt, together with the important information about precisely where they were found, is without parallel.”
The dagger measures roughly as long as a an adult’s forearm and dates back to when the Roman Empire suffered a humiliating defeat in forests east of the Rhine, according to The Australian.
It is set to go on display at Haltern’s Roman history museum from 2022.