Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-07-11
RELICS OF ROMAN OCCUPATION

RELICS OF ROMAN OCCUPATION
1utcrcsting Finds In the Excavations
~ Bi1chester, In England.
The result Of last summers labors In
the excavation Of the Roman city Of
SIlchester-about ten miles to the
southwest Of Reading-may he seen In
the rooms Of the Society OF Antiquari.
ans, under whose auspices the work IL
carried on. The committee has been
systematically engaged with this l;bof
for six successive seasons. none Of
which has been more fruitful than the
last as regards both the structural re.
storntiOn Of the city aud Individual
finds.
About half the area-1OO acres-with.
In the walls--has been thoroughly ex.
plOred, but It IL anticipated that sew.
eral more years work will be required
before the Romano. British city can Ike
regarded as completely disclosed. An
expenditure Of at least $1,000 a year ID
needed for the work. which In some re.
spects Ii Of unequaled archaeological
and historic interest, as nowhere else
have 30 many houses. temples and pub.
lie buildings Of the period been dILcov-
cred, and no other place has yielded
forum or Christian church. and with
some Justice she committee claims that
the exploration Of Silchcster is the he.
ginning Of the history. Of the civil Oc.
cupatiOn of Britain by the Romans.
The excavations last year were be.
gun on May Z, and continued with no
break, except for harvest. until the
middle Of October. An area OF about
three and One-half acres was examined.
ON which were two insulae (XIlT. ana
XIV, OF which insuln Nil. was clear.
~ shown to have been occupied by the
dyerv. who, according to previous dis.
cOveries. worked In this portion Of the
city,
The real interest was centcrcd In
insiila NV, which was almost en-.
tirely covered by the foundations of
two large aud important houses. The
western house Of the two was Of the
courtyard type, but different from
others Of the kind In having the fourth
side. which Ii usually open or nearly
closed by wall, covered by a rnnge
OF large chambers with mosaic floors,
some Of the mOsaics being Of large size
ana good wOrkmansl and In such
good condition that three out OF four
were taken up and properly mounted
for future exhibition mt the Reading
museum.
The eastern house also disclosed re-.
markaMe examples Of beautiful mOsnic
pavements ana rich panels for the
walls.
Another pavement was interesting
both on account Of the coarse work.
manship. indicating late date. and
also for the pattern. which marked the
position Of the table and cOuches in the
trlcllnium. of which 1t formed the floor.
The most remarkable feature, however.
In this house was the small chapel con.
tanning the base Of n detached shrine
for the household gods. u feature not
hitherto found mt Silchester.
One OF the most interesting dlscov.
cries was that Of block Of wool
through which passed two large and
perfect lead pipes, while the chase for
another was cut In front. This ar.
rnngement. It has now been ascertain.
ed. represented when complete the
force pump. described by vitruvius as
the "machina ctesibica." This II he.
lieved to be the first example OF Ro.
man hydraulic machinery discovered In
Britain.
The most beautiful Of the finds Ia a
small pillar-m0lded bowl Of deep sap.
phire blue streaked with white ana
yellow spots. which fortunately has
beeen perfectly restored. No other
complete example Of this kind OF i'm.
ported glass has hitherto been found In
this cOuntry.-LOndOn Times.