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ways, and at a little distance on each side another composed of three lines of zig-zag, which is again bounded by another indented border." At a later period the vessel was described by the Rev. E. L. Barnwell, in Arch. Camb., 1875, when its dimensions were said to belength, 9 in., an average breadth of 4 in., the depth 2 in. Canon George Cunliffe was of opinion that it was, when perfect, 2 in. more each way. The body of the cup is said to be of oak, ornamented with exquisite bands of gold, as described by Sir Samuel Meyrick. What was its exact purpose, and whether it was intended for use for libations of a religious or a social character, is, of course, a matter of conjecture, and its proper attribution is rendered difficult by the fact that only one or two vessels of the kind appear to have been preserved. The cup was exhibited in the temporary museum at the Wrexham meeting, in 1874. Since that period it has not been open to inspection. With Mr. Barnwell's article, in 1875, an admirable illustration in gold and colours was given from an original drawing by Miss Cunliffe, of Pant yr Ochyn, Gresford. For some reason or other the artist has given only part of the details, apparently on the presumption that the portions omitted might be easily inferred. In other respects the details are given with accuracy.

CHESTER A ROMAN GRAVEYARD.-Roman remains are being unearthed at Chester on the site of the extension of the infirmary, at a depth of about 5 ft. in close clay soil. Numerous Roman graves have been discovered, and in all eighteen skeletons. The site is believed to be that of a graveyard used by the 20th Legion of the Romans during their occupation of the city. The most recent discovery is a grave in which are the skeletons of a mother and babe. In each instance the skeletons had been buried with the head pointing north. The teeth are perfect.

Professor Robert Newstead reports on this discovery as follows: "I cannot," he says, "enter into the peculiarities of the skeletons and bones, of which there will be some considerable information to give at a later period. The evidence, so far as it goes, proves conclusively that the Infirmary field was not used as a burying ground during the outbreak of the Plague; in other words, that all the burials which have so far been unearthed belong to the Roman period. I believe the reason why the field has been in later years referred to as the Plague Field, is that in years gone by many drains were laid in this field, and as evidenced by the recent discoveries, some of these modern drains had intersected the burials. Thus it was that in finding human remains it was no doubt concluded that they were the victims of the great Plague. This is, however, not the case. The number of graves in all was seventeen. These are of four distinct types. One is a tomb formed of local sandstone, evidently representing a burial of some importance, as the walls of the tomb or grave were partly covered in

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plaster, and the upper portion or dome of the structure must originally have stood out in marked contrast to the surrounding surface of the land, forming a distinct tumulus. Three graves had been formed by placing Roman roofing tiles upon the floor, and also at the sides, several of which bore the stamp of the 20th Legion, and it is curious and interesting to note that all of these legionary stamps were placed so that they faced inwards. Another type of burial differs from either of the preceding, in that a distinct cyst was formed by placing roughly-hewn sandstone, so that a V-shaped trough was formed for the reception of the body. Over this, the coverings consisted of broken Roman roofing tiles. This was a child burial. In all the remaining burials a simple trench had been dug in the solid clay, none of them exceeding a depth of two feet from the top of the original land surface. Reference has already been made to the fact that all these graves are of Roman origin, and that is borne out by the fact that in two instances bronze coins were discovered, one of Antoninus Pius, and the other probably of Commodus. It is a well-known fact that coins were placed usually in the mouth of the deceased, and are generally referred to as Charon's passage fare,' to expedite the passage of the souls across the lake in Hades, as it was believed that the man or person, who had not received the usual rites of burial, and in whose mouth no fee for the ferryman of the Stygian lake had been placed, would wander hopelessly on its banks, while a decent interment and a small coin would obviate any disagreeable enquiries that Charon might else be inclined to make. In addition to this a very interesting terra-cotta lamp was found, which was also one of the usual offerings to the dead, and this was probably filled with oil and placed in the grave lighted. It was furthermore an emblem of immortality. The discovery of a number of large nails in the majority of the burials has led to the theory that the bodies had been crucified. As a matter of fact, such nails have been found in Roman burials elsewhere in Britain and in other parts of the world, and they are probably symbolical of time or money. Not the least interesting discoveries were the remains of Roman sandals, or, to be more correct, the iron studs with which the soles of the Roman sandals had been filled. In removing the clay which formed the floor of one of the graves, there was found an unfinished, or partly finished, stone implement belonging to the Neolithic period. This is extremely interesting, and affords further evidence that Chester was in all probability prior to the Roman occupation inhabited by early man.'

In the process of further excavation, another Roman grave has been unearthed, containing three urns, in one of which was a metal mirror. Professor Newstead promises later a full description, with illustrations, of the discoveries.

THE EXCAVATIONS ON PARC Y MEIRCH.-The ancient fortification on Parc y Meirch, which was visited by the members in September last, has recently been excavated under the direction of Mr. Willoughby Gardner. The site is described in Arch. Camb., 1912, p. 166, as a tree-covered rocky promontory over 500 ft. high, overlooking the vale of Clwyd, with an interior area of 6 acres, and evidently selected for the sake of the ready-made defences of steep slopes and rocky crags. The neck of the promontory alone needed fortification, and across this neck, therefore, there was constructed a massive rampart with a ditch outside it. In process of excavation it has been discovered that the highest rampart consists of a rubble core piled up on the original surface of the ground. The height of the rampart, measured from the interior area of the camp, was 16 ft. From the crest of the rampart there is a very steep slope down to the present surface of the ditch on the outside. This ditch has been re-excavated, and its bottom is found to be 9 ft. below the present surface, so that makes, altogether, from the crest of the rampart to the bottom of the ditch, a vertical drop of 45 ft. Along the crest of the rampart have been discovered remnants of the former wall of dry masonry which faced the rubble core at this point. There are reasons for believing that this masonry, which is now found to have fallen to the bottom of the ditch in front, originally stood about 8 ft. high, which would make the vertical depth from the top of the wall to the bottom of the ditch 53 ft. Thus, this rampart and ditch constituted a stupendous defence, and, with the other ramparts and ditches, the fortification must have been practically impregnable in the days when it was constructed. The ditch between the second and third rampart and the shallower ditch outside the third rampart have had sections cut across them, but the relics found at the bottom of these cuttings have been disappointingly small. In the middle ditch fragments of a human skull and tibia were found lying lengthwise.

The next thing was to investigate the gap in the ramparts to the south-east. After searching first on one side and then on the other traces of an original entrance were discovered. This has now been partially excavated, and shows dry masonry facing-walls made of large blocks of stone on either side of the passage, and the design and construction appear to resemble the entrances previously excavated at Pen y Corddyn. In the interior area, relics of a considerable resident population have been found. Large quantities of broken pottery continue to be unearthed. Much of this is conspicuously Roman, ranging probably from the first to the fourth century.1

The finds include fragments of jars, large and small bowls, saucers, dishes, and mortaria. These pots, &c., are met with in various kinds of ware-red, black, and grey. There are one or two frag

1 By a typographical error this pottery was stated in Arch. Camb., 1912, p. 166, to be 200 instead of at least 1200 years.

ments of the red Samian ware. Among the black ware is a piece of a somewhat scarce type of beaker or cup, with handle attached. Besides the pottery, small objects owned by former dwellers in the stronghold have been turned up, including a few bronze coins, ranging from the second to the fourth century. One of these is a Constantine the Great, of the Urbs Roma type, with the representation of Romulus and Remus being suckled by the wolf on the reverse. It bears the mint mark of Lugdunum. It was struck between the years A.D. 335 and 337. It is in fine, fresh condition, showing that it cannot have been long in circulation when it was dropped by its former owner upon the hill-top of Parc y Meirch.

ROMAN MILESTONES.-In a letter to Arch. Camb., 1883, Mr. Richard Luck, of Llanfairfechan, writing 2nd March, 1883, reports that "about ten days ago, a remarkably fine stone has been found in a field adjoining a branch road which runs into the 'Old Roman Road' [leading from Aber through a pass in the mountain range between Llanfairfechan and Aber, called 'Bwlch y ddaufaen'] at a distance of about two miles from Aber . . . The field was being cleared by the owner of boulder and other stones, when the labourers came in contact with the fine Roman milestone. Fortunately for its preservation, it was entirely buried in the earth, with the exception of a small bos at the base of the stone, which stood above the surface of the land. . . . The form is cylindrical and slightly tapering. Its entire length is 6 ft. 9 in.; diameter near the base, 19 in., at the summit, which is not entirely circular, 17 in. and 16 in.; the circumference at or near the base is 5 ft., and at the top, 4 ft. 7 in. The whole of the inscription is within 16 in. of the top; and it would appear that the base for 16 in. had been originally sunk in the ground.

"The stone is conglomerate, or millstone grit, as are also the two stones in Bwlch y ddaufaen.' That kind of stone is not, I think, to be found in this neighbourhood."

The stone referred to is that known as "Hadrian's Milestone," now set up in the British Museum, and figured in Arch. Camb., 1912, p. 225, where the place of finding is incorrectly put as Rhiwan, instead of Rhiwiau.

In Arch. Camb., 1884, p. 244, is a letter from R. W. B., referring to a statement by Mr. Thompson Watkin of the discovery of "a second milestone, of which the upper portion was found in July following, about 10 yards from the site of the first one. Like the other, this milestone is of grit stone, and of the same diameter; but the portion found is only 1 ft. 11 in. in height." This is the stone inscribed with the names of Septimius Severus and M. Aurelius Antoninus.

EDITOR.

FIND OF BARROWS NEAR LLANFIHANGEL NANT MELAN.--Hearing of a find of barrows near Llanfihangel-Nant-Melan I at once proceeded there, and took a brief survey of the ground, which I fancy is one of the most important burying grounds in Radnorshire. It is situated on the south side of a hill called Gilwern, which lies to the north of Caety Traylow. It is due west of Pentre Tump and east of Black Yat.

It is surrounded on the north-west and east by a vallum and fosse. This vallum, at present 4 ft. high, is faced on the fosse side with stone, and is backed with earth, 8 ft. broad, enclosing a rectangular piece of ground about half-a-mile long. To the south is a very steep dingle (Cwm y Bont). The entrance is on the west side by a deep hollow-way, 10 ft. broad, leading in a south-westerly direction. About two miles west is a stone circle. An old trackway on the west side outside the vallum runs to Gladestry. To the north-west is a large pool of water.

The spot is specially interesting on account of the long graves, which are exactly similar to, but, owing to the nature of the soil, not in so good preservation as the so-called Giants' Graves discovered at Builth. Such structures are more common in Radnorshire than is generally supposed.

These graves are dotted about the hill. I counted thirty-six on the average, from 42 ft. to 72 ft. long, and though the majority run north and south, a few run east and west. They are all about 14 ft. broad, and in most cases it seems as if there was a central chamber which had given way.

Down the centre to half-way down the hill runs a broad track, 10 yards wide, on each side of which is a small vallum. This stops at the outer vallum, and from this point a very large barrow on Wimble can be seen exactly north-east. Where this ends is a large

excavation in the hill running north and south.

The hill side has been cut away and earth thrown out to form two large platforms. Similar structures of smaller dimensions occur both to the east and west.

Another curious building is met with in an excavation on the extreme west near the gate, possibly the remains of the hut of the guardian or chief priest, though it is exactly east and west, and might be a tomb. Round this are some high mounds of earth differing from the other barrows, and some dry walling, 2 ft. high and 2 ft. broad. The inside measurement is 32 ft. long by 9 ft. broad. The wall round the cemetery or burial ground is now used as a boundary, but it is of extremely ancient date and does not look like an ordinary fence.

There are no camps in the immediate vicinity, and the early builders may have either come from the camps round Builth or, as has been suggested, dwelt in crannogs in the valleys.

H. LEWIS.

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