CNN —Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old clay head that once belonged to a Roman figurine of the god Mercury. The rare artifact, discovered at an archeological site at Smallhythe Place in Kent, England, provides evidence of a previously unknown Roman settlement that was in use between the first and third centuries, according to a news release from the National Trust, a conservation charity. Portable figures and statues of Romans gods were part of daily life in Roman Britain. Mercury was the Roman god of fine arts, commerce and financial success. This newly discovered Mercury was made from pipeclay, a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes, and examples are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 discovered so far from Roman Britain.

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Persons: Mercury, Nathalie Cohen, ”, Matthew Fittock Organizations: CNN —, National Trust Locations: Kent, England, Roman Britain, pipeclay, Roman, Smallhythe