Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/305

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 183 By Mr. Webb. — Two valuable examples of metal work, recently brought from the continent: one of them a figure of St. Cecilia, of gilt bronze, of the latter part of the twelfth, or begiiming of thu thirtt-enth century. It was placed under an elegant canopy, or haldachinu, of gilt bronze, the work of a later age, the design bearing much resemblance to the architecture of the Baptistery at Piacenza. The other bronze figure, also gilt, represented a Martyr Bishop. By Mr. Alexander Lean. — Specimens of ancient embroidery, recently obtained from France, portions of a frontal, or of the orfrays of sacred vestment; date sixteenth century. April 13, 1849. Mr. Bowyer Lane reported the result of his inquiries and observation during a recent visit to Colchester, in order to inspect the extensive and valuable Roman remains there discovered, on the property of Mr. John Taylor. In trenching the land near his residence, West Lodge, INIr. Taylor had found vestiges of a burial-ground of considerable extent, and in the small portion of this cemeteiy, already excavated, more than 150 urns, and vessels of various kinds, had been found, with glass vessels, and other objects of the Auglo-lloman age. Mr. Taylor had, with great liberality, presented these valuable antiquities to the Local Museum, now forming at Colchester, and they had been deposited in the Town Hall. The prosecu- tion of the inquiry will, doubtless, bring to light further vestiges, not less interesting and instructive than the remains generously devoted by ]Ir. Taylor towards the formation of a museum, worthy of so fruitful a field of antiquarian research as Colonia. We hope to give more detailed notices of his prosecution of this important discovery. The Rev. John Wilson, local secretary in Oxfordshire, communicated a report of Roman remauis discovered in the month of March ult., in the parish of Headingtou, near Oxford, on a hill opposite to that village, and adjoining to the parish of Elsfield. The investigation has not as yet been fully carried out, on account of the land being cropped. The antiquities discovered consist of pottery, in great variety, ino-luding almost all the known varieties, from " Samian " to the most rude fabrication — flanged tiles, portions of foundations of a chamber, measuring about 13 feet by 10; the walls coated with stucco; some fragments, exhibiting painting in stripes of bright red and green colours ; a small iron umbo, a small globular bell, objects of iron, &c., and a few third brass coins. The site is remarkably beautiful, and well suited for a villa. A line of Roman road passed near the spot. Mr. Wilson exhibited numerous ancient relics of interest, found during this excavation, amongst which were some small vessels of unusual form,' of light-coloured ware, and a stamp for impressing clay, bearing a head of Mercury, well designed. The liEv. William Gunner sent a drawing of a small olla with a cover, of Anglo-Roman wai'e, found in Winchester, in Water-lane, not far from the spot where various remains were discovered, as described by Dr. Milner, (Vetusta Monum., vol. iii.) The um contained ashes ; the cover was ^ These little vases bear much rcseiublancc to sonic brought from Nineveh bv Mr. Laxard.