A PIECE of history telling the tale of Oxfordshire’s earliest identifiable resident has gone on show for the first time.

As part of its new exhibition, History in the Making, the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock has put on display the tombstone of Roman soldier Lucius Valerius Geminus.

The two-metre high tombstone remained buried for centuries in the foundation of a stone wall near the site of the Roman town of Alchester, between Bicester and Wendlebury.

It was unearthed in 2003 but has stayed in storage until now.

Dr Chris Ferguson, curator of archaeology for Oxfordshire Museums Service, said: “This project has given us the chance to put it back together and get it out.

“It is of the earliest known Roman legionary, he survived the Roman conquest and retired as a veteran.

“What’s exciting is that it’s personal, it’s not like an archeological site where it’s difficult to understand.”

The exhibition is until January and opens 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday. Please call 01865 300972 to book.