Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/297

Rh Mr. Wright laid before the meeting a series of extracts from the bursars' accounts of Merton college, Oxford, from 1277 to 1310, presented by Mr. J. H. Parker, and read a communication from Mr. Parker on the subject. These accounts shew that the chapel of Merton college, a beautiful example of the Decorated style of architecture, was built in 1277, the high Altar being dedicated in that year; and therefore carry the first introduction of that style in England to an earlier date than had previously been ascertained, although it had been conjectured.

1. Romano-British urns and earthen vessels, excavated about twelve years since at Bridge-hill, near Canterbury, during the alteration then made in the line of road from Canterbury to Dover. These and many other urns with skeletons and fragments of weapons, were deposited about midway from the foot of the hill to the top.—By William Henry Rolfe, Esq.

2. Roman glass vessels and pottery, discovered a few years since in excavating for the foundations of Victoria-terrace, St. Dunstan's, Canterbury.—By Ralph Royle, Esq.

3. Roman urn, found four and a half feet from the surface of the earth, about a quarter of a mile from the riding gate of the city of Canterbury, on the old Dover road. Several skeletons, lying abreast of each other, with other remains, were found at the same place.—By Mr. John Alford Smith.

4. A large collection of Roman vases, discovered in the precincts of the cathedral.—By George Austen, Esq.

5. Gold Byzantine and Merovingian coins, mounted and looped for decorating the person, discovered with other ornaments in gold near the church of St. Martin's, Canterbury.—By W. H. Rolfe, Esq.

Mr. C. Roach Smith remarked, that these coins had evidently been arranged as a necklace, a custom common to the later Romans and Saxons. Roman coins and gems seem to have been much sought for by the Saxons, who used them not only as elegant ornaments but also, as Mr. Wright (in a paper lately read before the Society of Antiquaries) has shewn, as amulets or charms. One of these gold coins is in itself particularly interesting, as it appears to have been struck by Eupardus, a bishop of Autun, who lived in the early part of the sixth century, but of whom history is almost silent, neither does it appear that any other coin bearing his name has been found. Mr. Smith added that the discovery of these ornaments may be taken into consideration as evidence of the early appropriation of the locality as a place of sepulture.

6. Specimen of a rare Roman goblet or bowl in variegated opake glass,