Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/415

Rh and close by the very spot where these relics were discovered. This burial ground forms three sides of a square, which has originally been enclosed with a wall of sandstone from the neighbouring quarry; the foundation may be easily traced at the depth of three feet, the present high road forming the fourth side of the square. The depth of these deposits was about three feet from the earth's surface.

"That the whole of this inclosure contained the ashes of persons of distinction, may be inferred from the great beauty and value of the relics interred with them; some of these are of the most sacred character, such for instance as the bronze acena or incense pan, the blue jug or simpulum, and a sacrificial knife found with them. All of these implements belong to the priestly office, the two last of which, with the cyathus, are frequently seen on the reverses of Roman coins, indicating the union of the imperial and pontifical dignity.

"A considerable time elapsed after the before-mentioned discoveries, when I conjectured from the official uses and purposes of many of the remains themselves, the probability of finding a place of pagan worship in their immediate vicinity. I commenced a search accordingly. After much labour and patience, I found the site of a Roman building at the distance of about half a furlong from the cemetery, and by digging round it, ascertained it to occupy an area of thirty feet by twenty, round which, about the foundation, was deposited a great quantity of mutilated remains of Samian pottery, and other coarse ware, most of the latter having probably been manufactured from the earth of a contiguous spot, which for ages, and to this day retains the name of Oman's Pond. The clay dug from hence is well adapted for the purpose of making such articles, and I have no doubt a pottery once formed a part of the site of this (R)oman's pond. This success induced me to try once more the old scene of my labours. By digging round the outside of the cemetery, I found a silver trumpet, of very diminutive size, being only sixteen inches in length; also a curious iron instrument, used as I presume to fasten the nails and pick the hoofs of the horse whose rider's ashes reposed with his bones in this place. Here was formed a trench or cist, about twelve feet in length, filled with the usual deposit of ashes, burnt bone, and charcoal; over this were placed Roman tiles leaning against each other at the top, so as to form an angle and protect the dust beneath. Here also was deposited a denarius of Geta. Another denarius of the above prince was found at some distance; they are both in fine preservation and of exquisite workmanship, and represent the ages apparently of nine and of twelve years.

"Some copper moulds for pastry were also found here, very highly ornamented. Although almost every deposit contained abundant evidence of cremation, yet no discovery has been made of a regular Ustrinum. On one occasion the workman employed to dig, &c. found at the depth of eighteen inches a ring adhering to his mattock, which escaped the slightest injury. It is a signet-ring of the age of Henry the Second, and bears a cypher and an ear of corn in intaglio. Immediately beneath this a beautiful Roman urn was found, adorned with elegant scroll-work in high relief; and descending fourteen feet deeper a mammoth's tooth lying on the sandstone rock. These three last articles were deposited beneath each other in a perpendicular line, and no doubt further fossil remains of the mammoth lay contiguous, of which several indications presented themselves, the tooth weighs seven pounds and three quarters. A variety of articles have been found occasionally deposited at the bottom of the urns, such as rusty nails,