Page:VCH Rutland 1.djvu/141

 ROMANO-BRITISH RUTLAND with drapery hanging over it were found, as well as Gauhsh and Castor pottery. The latter includes Castor ware with figures of animals, and a vase of grey ware described as a wine- cooler. In 1 90 1 a bronze coin of Carthage was picked up, dating 200-180 B.C., with head of Persephone on obv., and horse's head on rev. ; also about twenty Roman coins, including a 'first brass ' of M. Aurelius (a.d. 161-80) and an ancient forgery of Caracalla _Leic. Arch. Soc. ix, 228 ; Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), xix, 194]. In 1903 Mr. W. H. Wing brought to light remains of sup- posed Roman date in a field to the east of the village [^Rut. Mag. and Hht. Rec. i, 136]. In August 1906 excavations were started in a field to the north of ine village for the purpose of obtaining ironstone. Here were found traces of a pottery kiln, in the shape of two or three 'hand bricks' of coarse red clay,^ stands for vases, several cracked jars of grey ware, obviously ' wasters ' (fig. 3), and part of a mould. Unfortunately all remains of the kiln itself were unwittingly destroyed in the operations, but Mr. Beynon describes it as a ' circular chamber lined with baked clay.' Among other finds are a quern, found in two pieces some distance apart, with the iron spindle still remain- ing in the centre ; cooking-vessels with pierced bottoms, and other plain pottery ; a bow-shaped fibula with good patina, a bronze tag for a girdle, and coins of Allectus (a.d. 293) and Constantine II (a.d. 337-40).^ A well found in December 1906 contained skulls, fragments of pottery, a mortarium, a door- hinge (?), and pieces of leather. In 1907 a section of the vallum of the camp was made by Mr. Wing at the expense of the Rutland Archaeological Society. Oakham. — Inside the castle inclosure is a mound, said to be the remains of an old Roman or British encampment {Leic. and Rut. N. and Q. i, 76]. A plaster head was exhibited at Melton Mowbray in 1865, which came from a spot near the castle, and was said to be Roman {Leic. Arch. Soc. Trans, iii, 39]. At a later date a stone quern was found ^Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), xiv, 200]. Ranksborough. See Langham. Beaton. — A very perfect harp- or bow-shaped bronze fibula (probably early 2nd-century) was found in 1869 near the Rectory [Z«V. Arch. Soc, Trans, iv, i]. Thistleton. — In a house in the village there is a base of a Roman column from the site of the Roman settlement. The site is discussed under the heading Market Overton (q.v.). Uppingham. — In 18 14 a vessel containing 600 silver coins of various dates was found in a wood near here [Rut. Mag. and Hist. Rec. i, 150]. Gold coin of Arcadius (a.d. 383-408) found in 1905 [Information from Mr. V. B. Crowther-Beynon]. Part of Bronze Figure (Market Overton) 1908 ' Similar objects found in a kiln on the Medway are now in the Brit. Mus. ° Some of these objects were exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Crowther-Beynon, 30 Jan. 93