The Roman head flask was found in South Shields

Evidence from artefacts held in the university's museum of antiquities shows that Africans were represented at all levels of Roman society.

The university's director of archaeological museums, Lindsay Allason-Jones, who has organized an exhibition of Romano-African artefacts to coincide with Black History Month, said: "From the evidence we have here, it is clear that colour was no bar to the status an individual could achieve in the Roman Empire.

"A person could rise to senatorial status regardless of their colour or country of origin - the Emperor Hadrian himself was Spanish, Septimius Severus was a Libyan.

"On the other hand, they did have deep-rooted prejudices against a whole list of other people - men who wore earrings, for example.

'International significance'

"And they objected strongly to the Barbarians - that is, anyone who came from outside the Empire.

When Roman forces built Hadrian's Wall, very few of their men were Italians, most of them were Spanish, Gallic and German soldiers, while several of the auxiliary units who took over garrison duty from the legionaries came from North Africa.

Among the unique objects which point to the presence of Africans on the military frontier, is a 2nd Century AD blue glass mould-blown vessel in the form of an African man's head.

The so-called head flask was found in South Shields at the end of the 19th Century. It is one of only three to have been found in the UK.

Lindsay Allason-Jones added: "The collections we hold are not just of regional, but national and international significance.

"Through small exhibitions such as 'Africans on Hadrian's Wall', we are aiming to bring new insights about our culture and heritage to a much wider audience."

The university museum is currently part of an �18m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding to create a 'super-museum' in Newcastle.