Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/38

26 disencumbered of buildings, about 60 ft. back from the line of Thames Street, and nearly 14 ft. below the level of the pavement. Such parts, as from their materials and construction may be undoubtedly called Roman, present two distinct features; the first in order, as being nearest to the street, is a pavement or floor of coarse red mosaic, (A in plan,) 23 ft. from north to south, and laid bare in one part to the extent of 8 ft. eastward, and in another part to about 5 ft., and inclosed at the north and south as far as opened and along the whole of its western side by a compactly constructed brick wall 8 ft. in thickness, formed entirely of flat bricks, chiefly "tegulæ sesquipedales," and cement or mortar, without any admixture or layers of rubble or bonding courses. When the workmen first opened the ground this wall was 4 ft. 6 in. high, but the greater part of the west side had been broken down to about 1 ft. before I saw it; from the solidity of this wall I am induced to believe that it was an outside wall of the edifice in this direction, and indeed there is no opening through it on the west; the foundations have been laid open down to the piles of black oak on which it is based, and as close adjoining are exposed to view other similar piles with cross timbers, planks, &c., having apparently formed a wharf or quay, and from various indications in the soil, there can be little doubt that the building stood on the then strand or bank of the Thames, the thick wall being precautionary against the tide and river.

Be this as it may, the coarseness of the mosaic pavement, which is of that kind called by Vitruvius " ruderatio,"