Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/244

 20S ANCIENT CAMBRIDGESHIRE. undoubtedly luaterially indebted, bi'ingiiig us ns they do in close contiguity Avitli the monuments of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and last, among Archaeological discoveries, though iirst in anticjuity and im}H)rtance, "with the marvellous palaces of Assyria. Throughout Europe, local museums and societies have l)een established, nor has England been slow to follow the example, so that instead of a few central bodies, almost every county can now boast of its own antiquarian community. Every true Archaeologist must rejoice in this happy change, and I believe I am not in error when 1 state my conviction that these local bi'anchcs have been planted, and are fostered by the annual visits of the parent societies to different parts of the country ; such a visit as we have this year assembled in the University of Cambridge to take part in, under most favourable auspices. Although objects of general antiquarian interest come within the scope of our proceedings on these occasions, those of a local nature claim j)recedence as tending to throw light upon the ancient history and inhabitants of the county in which we may be assembled. Having been called upon, on the occasion of the visit of the institute to Cambridge, to preside over the section especially devoted to encjuire into this branch of our Agenda, and having been continually engaged during the last ten years in Archaeological investigation of the borders of Cambridgeshire and the adjacent parts of Essex, I do not feel as unequal as I otherwise should, to the undertaking, and will, therefore, j)roceed to give a conqirehensive view of the principal features elicited in the course of the excavations and researches to which 1 have alluded. In enumerating the various interesting- spots to which I am desirous of directing attention, as having jiroduced, either at some former period, or in recent times, remains of the early IJiitish, the Uoman, and Romano- Ih-itish, oi- the Anglo-Sa.xon })eriods," I nuisL remind you that • At the Mcutiiit; of tlic; .Section oC liopc (Imt iit soiiio fiiliiii! time Mr. Ntvillc Aiiti<|uUioH, at Caiiilii-il.'iti)ti u- ni.i|m liy viirioiiH coioiii-*. We we nmy i-efei- mir rejidiTH In the Map nf