Head on stick found at fort

THE 1,800-year-old skull of a beheaded Briton stuck on a pike has been found near Hadrian’s Wall.

Volunteers also uncovered the 2,000-year-old remains of a dog, still with its fur, at the Roman fort.

The rare finds were made at Vindolanda, near Hexham, Northumberland.

Dr Andrew Birtley, of the Vindolanda Trust, said “trophy head-taking” was common among Roman auxiliary soldiers.

Large dogs were kept by Romans to guard homes.