The stone walls of the recreated fortress at Arbeia, courtesy Tyne and Wear Museums

Two new names can be added to the roll of Romans who were stationed at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields. Inscriptions found at the site in the last two seasons of excavation were recently deciphered by Dr Roger Tomlin, an expert on Roman inscriptions based at Oxford University.

"Two inscriptions have been found during recent excavations which reveal fascinating details about the Roman troops stationed at South Shields," explained Nick Hodgson, principal keeper at Tyne and Wear Museums.

The first inscription was found on a pair of lead sealings unearthed at Arbeia. The seals measured about 25mm in diameter and would have been used to seal packages.

Re-enactors at Arbeia, courtesy Tyne and Wear Museums

The archaeologists who found the seals were instantly able to read the name of the Fifth Cohort of Gauls, a unit of around 500 soldiers. But Dr Tomlin has revealed that the seals are also inscribed with the name of the officer in charge, Aemilianus, who was a decurion: a commander of a troop of 30 cavalrymen.

The Fifth Cohort of Gauls have long been known to have been based at South Shields, but this is the first direct evidence in 130 years of excavation that the unit was part-mounted, with some soldiers serving on horseback.

“This is a big breakthrough for archaeologists, who have yet to find any trace of stables or cavalry barracks among the buildings belonging to the Fifth Cohort of Gauls," said Nick Hodgson.

The second inscription is on a building stone and translated from the Latin means: 'The century of Lucius Octavus built this.' It was found in the wall of a Roman granary discovered at Arbeia and was carved shortly after AD150.

"The building stone which the inscription was found on was re-used in the building of the Roman granary and unfortunately we don't know which building the inscription originally came from," added Nick.

The newly deciphered inscriptions can be seen in the museum at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields from Friday August 24 2007. Meanwhile, excavations continue at the site. The excavations are open to public view and will be running until the end of September.

The excavators consist of an international team of volunteers from the Earthwatch Institute, and students participating in a training scheme organised through the Arts Council and funded by the European Social Fund, led by professional archaeologists from Tyne and Wear Museums.