Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/320



described a singular discovery which had occurred, in January last, in the course of his excavations at Chesterford, Essex, at a spot just outside the limits of the Roman station, and adjoining to the churchyard of that place. Several deep pits had been found, excavated in Roman times in the gravel, and containing a number of reliques of pottery, glass, bronze and other metals. In one of these depositories Mr. Neville had discovered a large deposit of iron implements, such as scythes, chains, tires of wheels, hammers and other tools, shackle bolts, and padlocks of very curious workmanship, the metal being in excellent preservation, owing probably to the precautions which had been taken in closing the mouth of the pit with a thick layer of chalk. Mr. Neville produced drawings by Mr. Youngman, of Saffron Walden, exhibiting the principal objects in this remarkable deposit.

Mr. sent a notice of a Roman pig of lead found in August, 1853, near Blagdon, on the northern flank of the Mendip Hills, Somerset. There are traces of extensive workings, of the Roman age, on that range of hills, and a company has recently been formed, for the purpose of obtaining lead by fusing the slag which is found in large quantities near these ancient sites of mining operations on the Mendip. The pig was found by a countryman in ploughing, and brought to the patent shot-works of Messrs. Williams, at Bristol, by whom it has fortunately been preserved. It bears this inscription— —or, as some have read it,—  — in raised letters, formed by the mould; and on one of the sides

appears these letters twice impressed with a stamp— The last letter is indistinct. It has been supposed that this mark may refer to the weight. (Sec woodcut.) The inscription indicates that the pig was made under Britannicus, son of Claudius and Messalina, born 42. The young prince shared with his father the title of Britannicus, conferred by the senate in consequence of pretended victories in Britain: he was regarded as heir apparent to the throne until the close of his mother's scandalous career, 48. Soon after the marriage of Claudius with Agrippina, in the following year, lie was prevailed upon by her to set aside