Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/361

 ^procertitngs at tf)c ,fttcf tings of tijc ^rtfjarologitnl Jnstimtc. May 7, 18r>2. Sir Joiix Boileau, Bart., Vice-President, in the Chair. Mr.Blaaiw read an account, sent to him by the Rev. F. Spurrell, describing the recent discoveries of Roman remains in the neiglibourhood of Newhaven, Sussex. In cutting a drain, portions of Roman walls and foundations were ])rought to light, chiefly constructed of flints, and amongst the debris were Roman tiles, fragments of Samian ware, various objects of metal, with a large deposit of animal bones and shells, of the kinds of shell-fish used for food. A few coins were also brought to light, including one of Gallicnus, and a second brass of Hadrian, Rev. axnona. avg. which had been regarded as worthy of notice, from the seeming peculiarity that the figure and legend appeared impressed, or in intaglio, on the metal, instead of being in relief. Mr. Hawkins, however, considered this to be only the effect of some peculiar corrosion. The discovery of these vestiges, Mr. Blaauw observed, had been regarded with interest, as it seemed probable that they may serve to indicate the termination of a Roman road which took its course through Lewes towards London. A detailed account has been given in the recently published volume of the " Sussex Archaeological Transactions." A short communication was read, received from the Chevalieu Worsaae, at the close of his recent visit to London. " In reading the interesting paper in the Journal of the Institute, upon the discovery of the skin of the Dane, affixed to the door of a church,' in England, it struck me as in some dej^ree analogous, that in several instances human skulls are found to have been built into church-walls. In my book — ' The Danes and Norwegians in England,' <fcc., I have already mentioned some instances, for example in Morayshire, where the skulls of Danes are said to have been built into the walls of churches, because these Northmen had desecrated the sacred building by their sacrilegious plunderings. But it may perhaps be interesting to the English antiquary to know, that we also in Denmark have found something similar. " In my native town, Weile, in Jutland, is a very old church, said to have been founded in the tenth century by King Harald Bluetooth, the son of our first Christian Queen, the famous Thyra Danebod, who built the great national defence-wall, the 'Danevirke,' in the south of Slesvick. The church is in any case very old, and in the outside wall of one of the chapels are still found three ranges of very peculiar looking holes, containing about twenty human skulls, built into the wall. The tradition is, that these were the skulls of a band of robbers, who were executed after having robbed the church of Weile. It is, at least, undeniable that they are human skulls. " It appears not at all improbable, that we have here traces of the barbarous punishments of the Middle Ages. These facts, it will be admitted, are not undeserving of attention." Mr. Westwood gave the following observations upon a remarkable inscribed monument, existing in North Britain, exhibiting at the same time, ' Arch.ienl. .Journal, vol. v.. p. U!.i. VOL. IX. I' 1'