‘Absolutely amazing’: 1,800-year-old shattered Roman arm guard is reconstructed from 100 pieces

National Museums Scotland restores soldier’s brass guard, only the third of its kind known to exist

A spectacular brass guard that would have protected the sword arm of a high-ranking Roman soldier some 1,800 years ago has been reconstructed from more than 100 fragments found at Trimontium, the Roman fort complex in Scotland.

The extraordinary jigsaw puzzle has been pieced together by National Museums Scotland (NMS) in Edinburgh, and the arm-guard will now be loaned to the British Museum’s forthcoming exhibition on life in the Roman army.