The discovery of hundreds of items of Roman armour rank among the most important finds ever made in Britain from that period, archeologists said today.
Among the pieces uncovered on the site of a Roman fort in Carlisle was a scale shoulder guard, believed to be a unique example of its type anywhere in the world.
Experts believe the piece - which is made of dozens of iron scales held together with bronze wire - may solve the puzzle of how such armour worked.
The armour is thought to date from around the time of the Emperor Hadrian's visit to Britain in June 122AD.
The Emperor toured the Roman frontier during that period and, following his visit to Carlisle, the building of the wall that bears his name began.
The Carlisle hoard also included laminated limb defences, worn by legionnaires on their sword arms and copied from the equipment of gladiators.
The discovery was made by archaeologists John Zant and Gerry Martin, of Carlisle Archaeology Ltd, which is part of the University of Bradford's Department of Archaeological Sciences.
They identified a building as an armourer's workshop dating from around the second century AD.
Mike McCarthy, managing director of Carlisle Archaeology Ltd, said: "This wonderful discovery ranks among the most important ever made in Britain from the Roman period.
"The hundreds of items recovered from the site provide a fascinating insight into the period and on the nature of Roman control along its northern frontier."
Due to their fragility and great rarity, the pieces were put in protective plastic and taken for identification to the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds.
There scientific officer Dr David Starley assessed the objects using the museum's advanced X-radiography facilities.
Thom (correct) Richardson, keeper of Oriental and European armour at the museum, said the discovery was "unparalleled".
"Without doubt this is one of the most exciting and important archaeological discoveries of Roman armour in recent years," he said.
"From initial observations it will provide invaluable technical information on how such armour was constructed and functioned."
Other discoveries at the site included large numbers of iron projectile heads, a number of spear-heads, clay sling-shots and bolts.
It is hoped the objects will go on public display next year.
