Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/120

82 ples of highly-finished English cutlery. The silver-mounted ivory handles are curiously inlaid with silver filagree: one pair have inserted on the handles small silver coins of Charles II., James II., and Queen Anne.

On opening the proceedings, the Chairman took occasion to advert to the preparations for the of works of, already prosecuted with the most satisfactory effect, under the auspices of a very distinguished Committee of Management, over which H.R.H.  had graciously consented to preside. The high interest of such a collection, and the important influence which it was calculated to produce upon the taste and design of present times, had been, as was anticipated, warmly recognised. Sir John Boileau regarded with satisfaction that the recent diffusion of an enlightened taste for Archaeological inquiries had insured the signal success of an undertaking, which, in former times, would have been attended with many difficulties, or even viewed with contempt. The cordial interest with which the proposal had been entertained, was mainly due to the zealous endeavours, during the past six years, of the Archaeological Institute and the British Archaeological Association, whose meetings and publications had given so powerful an impulse to the extension of antiquarian science. He felt assured that the members of the Institute would cordially co-operate in giving full effect to the interesting exhibition about to be opened by the Society of Arts.

A memoir was communicated by, Local Secretary at Norwich, describing the curious remains supposed to be the vestiges of a British village of considerable extent, in Norfolk. The result of his observations, which were admirably illustrated by a large map of the locality, known as the "Weybourn Pits," will be published, on the completion of Mr. Harrod's careful investigations, in the series of contributions to "Norfolk Archaeology," produced by the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society. The village of Weybourn is near the sea, at the northern extremity of a range of cliffs extending towards Yarmouth. The pits are mostly circular, from 7 to 12 feet in diameter, and 2 to 4 feet in depth. Occasionally two or three pits are connected by a trench. The floors are carefully made with smooth stones. No pottery or remains have been found. The pits are very numerous, and are doubtless the vestiges of primeval habitations. They are formed in a dry sandy spot, overlooking a fertile district. To the north are numerous small tumuli.

A notice was then read, relating to the fine collection of antiquities brought before the meeting by the. They consisted of bronze vases, of exquisite form, cinerary urns of glass, a bronze lamp, and some other remarkable remains, discovered some years since near Thornborough, Bucks, on the estates of the Duke of Buckingham, in a tumulus, which proved to be the depository of the richest series of Romano-British remains hitherto explored, with the exception, perhaps, alone of the Bartlow Hills, in Cambridgeshire, excavated by the late Mr. Rokewode. An interesting account of a discovery recently made by, in the prosecution of his researches at Chesterford, was also contributed by Mr. . An olla had been brought to light, covered by a large dish of