Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/341

 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 293 an Icthyosaurus was found in this yellow clay a few years since, a fact which scorns to favour the conjecture of the former existence of a lake. The suhject of interest to the archaeologist, presented by these results of Mr. Allies' careful investigation, is the probable existence of ancient potteries near Leckhanipton. Future excavations may clear up the uncertainty which at present exists as to their age. Amongst the frag- ments collected by Mr. Allies there are some which have the character of late Roman pottery, but it is very probable that the occurrence of a bed of clay of such good quality caused the establishment of works there at various periods, possihly in early British and Roman, as well as in Saxon and subsequent times. Mr. Allirs concluded his communication by some details which he had succeeded in collecting regarding the curious discovery in 184.5, of a skeleton having on the skull the bronze frame of some kind of head-piece. It was found on Leckhanipton Hill, about half a mile from the Naunton Close Pottery. Notices of the discoveries there were received at the time from the Rev. Lambert Larking and Mr. Gomonde, and may be found in this Journal, vol. i. p. 386, vol. iii. p. 352, where it is figured. A repre- sentation of the skull-cap was also given in Mr. Gomonde's " Notes on Cheltenham, Ancient and Medieval." The particulars stated by Mr. Allies will be more fully noticed hereafter. Mr. G. BiSH Webb communicated a statement addressed to him by Mr. Latimer Clark, calling attention to the present condition of the ruined cathe- dral, the crosses and sepulchral remains in the island of lona, and the injuries they constantly suffer through neglect, and the heedlessness of the numerous excursionists who visit the island during the summer. The sculptured emblems and effigies upon the tombstones of the Scottish and Scandinavian chiefs there interred, are fast disappearing, Mr. Clark stated, beneath the tread of the flocks of curious visitors. No sooner has the guide described the effigy of one recumbent knight, than the thoughtless crowd are permitted to mount upon its face, to listen to the discourse upon other memorials. The noble proprietor of this island, the Duke of Argyll, would no doubt readily exert his authority to restrain all wanton injuries if the case were properly represented to him, and he would enjoin vigilant precautions by the guide, or those who have charge of his Grace's property in lona. The ravages of time are not so readily prevented. Within the memory of the present inhabitants, great changes have taken place, many inscriptions have become illegible, one fine cross has been blown down, and the fragments are already half imbedded in the turf. Of the two elaborately sculptured crosses which are still standing, one appears tottering on its base, and is liable at any time to be thrown down and shattered by the storms of that inclement region, A trifling expense and the judicious use of cement, with other simple precautions, might secure the preservation of these reliques for centuries.' Mr. Westwood off"ered some observations on the value of the early Christian monuments of Scotland and the Western Islands, and the duty of archaeologists to exert their endeavours to avert such wanton injuries as had been reported. He Avould accordingly move that the Central Committee ' Tlic monumental remains, crosses, &c. quitios of lona," noticed in a foniiei" at lona, have been cai'efully represented volume. Archieol. Journ. vol, vii. p. 105. in the work l)y Mr. Graham, the '' Anti-