rough pitching of cobbles, which expanded on the east side into courtyard, 9 feet square, paved with small boulders, giving access to a large slab of sandstone set on end, sloping down to the edge of the pit (which rose vertically on this side), and forming a kind of shoot. The back and sides of a small fireplace or rude melting-furnace, consisting of three slabs of sandstone set on edge, were in position on the original surface near the north-west corner of the pit. The fire-seat or enclosed area of the furnace was only 6 by 8 inches across, and its significance arises from the fact that lumps of iron slag were found beside and underneath two of the stones, and bits of charcoal, mineral coal, iron cinder, and corroded bronze on the floor level round about. The following are the noteworthy contents of the pit Gem.-Small onyx (a kind of agate) of lenticular shape and perfect proportions for ring setting, in two layers, pearl-grey above and brown beneath, the top layer cut in intaglio with a rude representation of a charging bull. Though the art is not of a high order, the design is finely polished on the inside, and though the upper surface of the stone is roughened by wear, the remainder is beautifully smooth and glistening. It was found in the confused filling at 3 feet 6 inches below ground level. (Plate I. Fig. 11.) Coins.-A second bronze (dupondius) of Trajan, legend corroded and undecipherable, was found at 3 inches less depth. At 11 feet from the north-east corner of the pit, and only foot 3 inches below grass level, a silver denarius was obtained, which, though much worn, was identified by Mr. Charles H. Read, F.S.A., of the British Museum, as being of Mark Antony, struck just before the battle of Actium, 35 B.C. Bronze.-The pointed end of a pin and quite a number of small corroded fragments, which coloured the surrounding soil and appeared to be sweepings or workshop waste. Head of a broken fibula, harp-shaped, hinged, of flat-oval section, with chain-loop and silver-gilt, or composed of some greyish non-corrodible alloy; ornamented with deep grooves and sharp-edged collar-mouldings on the middle of the bow. (Plate I. Fig. 1.) Iron.-Socketed iron hook, like the head of a shepherd's crook, 5 inches in total length, the bow of the hook 2 inches in diameter, and the socket I inch in diameter. Lead.-A small rivet and several small strips and amorphous lumps of workshop waste. Glass. Fragment from the side of a globular vessel of purplish-tinted glass. Several fragments of the greenish-tinted commoner kind of square bottles. Pottery. Among the usual number of fragments of coarse earthenware there was part of the rim of a mortarium, with the potter's name in worn and illegible characters. Among a few of plain terra sigillata from near the bottom was part of the base of a patera, form 31 (Dragendorff), with the potter's stamp (PA)TRICI, and others of embossed bowls, form 37 (Dragendorff), viz. (a) part of bulge ornamented with figures framed in metopes and small medallions in the style of the second or third century, made at Lezoux, and stamped with the potter's name IVS(TVS) on a raised label in sunk letters reversed; (b) portion of rim with animals, unframed, of types 910 Dog running to right, and 960 Serpent in Dechelette's list (Les Vases Céramiques Ornés de La Gaule Romaine, vol. ii. pp. 138, 143), with the potter's name GERMA(NVS), (MA. ligulate), a potter at La Grau fesenque, France, in the first century, whose productions have been found among the ruins of Pompeii, beneath the ashes of Vesuvius, which buried the city in A.D. 79; (c) part of brim with figures framed in semi-medallions of a later period; (d) part of base pierced with a hole which retains a leaden rivet used for mending. Miscellaneous.-Several pieces of calcined clay from the inside lining of a furnace cavity having a surface actually melted into black glass and forming drops owing to the intense heat of the fire. (Such débris of furnaces has been frequently met with during the excavations.) Lump of clayband iron ore at 2 feet 6 inches down. Slag or iron scoriæ at 2 feet 9 inches down. Cubes of ordinary mineral coal at 2 feet 6 inches down. A lump of slag containing free bronze or copper in a corroded condition at 8 feet down. Decomposed segments of lava guerns and teeth of ox and pig also much decomposed. Refuse Pit (3).-A hole in the ground, covered with a layer of red-burnt sandy clay 3 inches to 4 inches thick and 3 feet to 4 feet square, was 3 feet 6 inches deep and 6 feet in diameter, and situated in the south-west angle of the fortified area, away from any structured remains, being come upon in driving one of the exploratory trenches. The following are the noteworthy contents: Bronze.-Enamelled bow-shaped hinged fibula, without cross-bar, and with a chain-loop on the head; the flat surface of the bow, from the head to beyond the middle, decorated with three rows of rectangular chequers, pale green alternating with deep orange-red; the margins defined by neatly incised lines. The front of the bow has also a circular boss filled in (on the top) with faded scarlet enamel. The foot tapers in graceful curves to a terminal knob encircled by beaded cordons. Length 2 inches. (Plate I. Fig. 5.) A fibula of similar design, ornamentation, and dimensions found on the surface of the ancient buried forest when bared by the sea at Great Meols, on the coast of the Wirral peninsula, is described and illustrated by Dr. A. Hume (Ancient Meols, Plate III. Fig. 5, p. 63). An almost exactly similar one was also previously found at Wilderspool, and affords further evidence in support of the conclusion previously arrived at, after discovery of the remains of a bronze-founder's and enameller's workshop, that these and similar objects were manufactured in this locality. Pottery.-Greyish-brown to black vessel of cinerary urn type (broken on one side only), 7 inches in height and 63 inches across the brim, having a polished shoulder and belt, 3 inches wide, of trellispattern ornament in light tooled lines round the bulge. In addition to a few bits of plain terra sigillata dishes and cups, forms 31 and 33 (Dragendorff), there were the usual number of coarse unglazed fragments, one of which was of thin hard reddishbrown paste, decorated with vertical striæ produced with the roulette. The Remains of a Dwelling or Workshop (9) were uncovered inside the north-west angle of the fortification where the main rampart and accompanying Via turn nearly at a right angle to follow in a north-easterly direction the line of the river. bank. Here, unfortunately, a large slice of the Romano - British stratum, measuring at least 29 yards from east to west by 36 yards in the other direction, had been previously removed for the purpose of obtaining sand or providing a direct access to the field from the adjoining street (Greenall's Avenue or Old Chester Road), and in this way the north wall of the building, to be presently described, had also been eradicated. The remains in question formed part of the "Long Corridor House," briefly referred to in my report for the year 1900 (Transactions, vol. xvi. p. 16), and more fully described in my papers entitled Warrington's Roman Remains, recently published, page 11. Their position can also be traced by reference to the plan of the settlement which appeared more recently in the Transactions, 1904, vol. xx. A line of walling, 2 feet 6 inches wide, consisting of a double row of squared facing stones filled in with rubble and consolidated with clay on a bedding of similar clay 2 inches thick and 3 feet wide, is laid down in the plan, and described as starting at 96 feet from the north fence of the field (along Greenall's Avenue), and extending 80 feet eastwards at right angles to the Via, but is shown. without any return walls at its outer or eastern extremity, although prolonged search for them was then unsuccessfully made. On opening up the adjoining ground during the more recent excavations (1905) the clay bedding of the same line of walling was traced for a farther distance. of 4 feet 6 inches, or a total distance of 84 feet 6 inches from the Via. At its extremity a similar bed of clay 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet wide, extending northwards for a distance of 37 feet 6 inches from the end of the preceding, and having upon its surface patches of rubble foundation here and there, gave the line of the east wall of the enclosure previously sought in vain. The angle formed by the junction of these two lines of walling at the south-east corner of the enclosure is somewhat less than a right angle, since the north end of the latter was about 2 feet inside its true position as found by calculation, an irregularity not uncommon in |