Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/524

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PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF

sufficient proof of such a statement. They are all situated at a distance from the town, and have the appearance of heing British."

Mr. Austen sent for examination the fragment of "Samian," part of an armilla formed of shale, or Kimmeridge coal, with the five coins above mentioned. They consist of first brass coins of Trajan, A.D. 98, and Marcus Aurelius, A.D. 121 (both much defaced and encrusted with patina); fourth brass of Gallienus, A.D. 254; Victorinus, A.D. 265; and Tetricus, junior, A.D. 267. These last are in good preservation.

Mr. W. Wynne Ffoulkes gave a notice of his recent investigation of sepulchral remains in North Wales:—

"On September 30th ult., I commenced opening a tumulus situated about two miles N.W. of Denbigh, at Plas Heaton. The result has been most successful. I first found the bones of some large animal, probably those of the red deer. Next appeared a deposit of burnt bones, which seemed to have been originally enclosed in an urn, since fictile fragments were found close to them. This vessel seemed to have been broken by the settling of the tumulus, and by the roots of an ash-tree growing close to the spot where I found them. Digging to the depth of about five feet, I came to a skeleton, which had been placed in a squatting position, with the legs crossed, like the posture of a tailor. Another skeleton was placed in a similar position, back to back; both had tumbled, owing to the roots of trees and the settlement of the tumulus. Immediately under these skeletons was a cist, lying nearly north and south, slightly to the east of the centre of the tumulus, containing the skeleton of a young man, lying on its side, with the legs and arms gathered up. Near the head were the remains of a curiously-worked earthen vessel, broken by the roots and stones falling in through a hole in the side of the cist. The pieces which remained were in good preservation. Thus closed our discoveries on the 30th. On October 1st, proceeding on the south of the cist, in an easterly direction, I soon found another skeleton, lying, as that in the cist, on its left side; arms and legs gathered up. Had time permitted, I think I should have made further discoveries. I had, however, to fill up the excavations; and, as I was leaving the neighbourhood the next morning, I ordered the men to close up the work, with the hope of resuming it at some future time. Of the four skeletons (I carefully took up all the pieces of the skulls), I could not obtain any one skull entire; but they may suffice to enable Mr. Quekett, or some other able Comparative Anatomist, to form some notion of the race to which these remains may be assigned."

A short account was then read, which had been received from Mr. Way, regarding the excavations, made under the direction of the President of Trinity College, at the "Seven Barrows," near Lamborne, Berks, by the kind permission of the Earl of Craven, Mr. Hippesley, and Mr. Atkins, on whose property these tumuli are situated. This research had excited great interest in the neighbourhood, which is replete with earthworks and vestiges of early occupation. A detailed report will be given hereafter.

Mr. Winter Jones communicated some particulars connected with the interesting discoveries of Roman mosaics and antiquities at Pau, through the spirited exertions of the son of Mr. Baring Gould,—of which an account had been previously given by Mr. Yates. A ground-plan of the villa, and drawings of various remains, were exhibited, including a representation of a remarkable pavement of very elegant design, dissimilar to that of any examples found in England.