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The bottom and left-hand side of the relief are missing. To judge from the present shape and size of this piece, it would appear to have been fashioned for re-use as a roofing slab, before eventually being incorporated in a masonry base; this idea is supported by the existence of a small square hole close to the head of the figure, enabling it to be nailed to a roof. Only the head and part of the left arm of the figure, as well as a spear-head to his right, remain. The rest of the upper portion of the body has flaked away and only the outline is left. The front face of this soft stone bears many scratches. The back has been roughly dressed, but areas of the original surface have flaked off.

The relief is framed by a slightly raised decorated border. That at the top is divided into three horizontal zones by lightly incised guide-lines. A cross in the top line (with a chevron to either side and a number of smaller crosses in the lower band) placed above the centre of the figure, presumably marks the mid-point along the width of the slab. To the right of this, the two upper bands are filled with an incised dog-tooth pattern. The slightly narrower right-hand border is also divided by two guide-lines, between which is an incised zig-zag pattern. The inner edges of the frame are ornamented with short diagonal incisions. Little of the male figure, who is shown facing the spectator, remains. He was clad in armour, for the upper part of his left arm is covered with leather pteryges. In his right hand he holds a spear, and he would have supported a shield with the left, to judge from the position of his arm. The spear-head has a pronounced midrib,' and the narrow band, protruding to either side between the blade and the socket, may represent a collar. The head of the figure is almost triangular in shape, with a pointed chin and very short neck. The facial features are crudely rendered and flat, having lentoid eyes, an extremely long wedge-shaped nose, and only a small incision for the mouth. There are no ears. The hair is short and indicated simply by incised lines, which is a typically Celtic technique. An eleborate crest formed of three plumes crowns the head, but the sculptor has barely indicated the helmet itself above the hair-line.

The military figure on this votive relief is almost certainly to be identified as Mars. Although the carving is rustic, familiar details such as thepteryges, spear and crest are carefully rendered, as might be expected. A graffito (see drawing) has been lightly scratched above an incised guide-line, in the right-hand corner of the front face, but the significance of this is not clear.

Mudstone carving in a native style of the Roman God Mars, 60-300 CE.

Most Roman sculpture used local stone. It was rarely moved very far unless it was transported by water. This Roman carving is from the fort of Segontium at Caernarfon, north-west Wales. Mars was the Roman god of war. He was popular with Roman soldiers and was shown in armour with a crested helmet, often with a shield and spear.

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