Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-08-07
RELICS OF ROMAN OCCUPATION
Interesting Finds in the Excavations
3 ut Silchester, in England.

Interesting Finds in the Excavations
q at Si1chester, in England
: The result Of last summers labors III
, the excavation of the Roman city or
Silchester-about ten miles to the
southwest of Reading-may be seen IN
the rooms of the Society of Antlquarl-
ans. under whose auspices the work Is
carried on. The committee has been
Systematically engaged with this l"por
for six successive seasons, none Oh
which has been more fruitful than the
last as regards both the structural re-
storation of the city and Individual
finds.
About half the area-100 acres-Wlth-
In the walls-has been thoroughly ex-
plored, but it is anticipated that sew
eral more years work will be required
before the Romano British city can be
regarded as completely disclosed An
expenditure Of at least $4,000 year IS
needed for the work, which in some re-
spectS Is Of uneQualed archaeological
and historic interest, as nowhere else
tave so many houses temples and pub
lie buildings of the period been ditcOv-
cred, and no other place has yielded
forum or Christian church, and with
some Justice the committee claims that
the exploration of Silchester is the be-
ginning of the history Of the civil oc-
cupation Of Britain by the Romans
The excavations last year were be-
gun on May I, 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 (XIII. and
XIV, of which insula XIII. was clear
ly shown to have been occupied by the
Divers. who, according to previous dis
coveries, worked in this portion OF the
city.
The real interest was centered in
insula XIV, which was almost en-
tirely covered by the foundations OF
two large and 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 is usually open or nearly
closed by a wall, covered by range
of large chambers with mosaic floors,
some of the mosaics being of large size
and good workmanship and in such
good condition that three out Of four
were taken up and properly mounted
for future exhibition at the Reading
museum.
The eastern house also disclosed re
rkable examples of beautiful mosaic
Movements and rich panels for the
walls.
Another pavement was interesting
both on account Of the coarse WORK
manship. indicating a late date, an(
also for the pattern, which marked tn
Dosjtion of the table and couches in tn
tricljnium, of which it formed the floor
The most remarkable feature, however
in this house was the small chapel con
tanning the base of a detached shrin
for the household gods, feature no
hitherto found at Silchester.
One of the most interesting disco7
cries was that of a block OF WOO
through which passed two large an
perfect lead pipes, while the chase fo
another was cut in front. This a.
rangement. it has now been ascertain
ell. represented when complete tn
force pump, described by Nitruvius
the "machina ctesibica." This is b'
ueved to be the first example of H
man hydraulic machinery discovered
Britain.
The most beautiful of the finds Is
small pillar-molded bowl Of deep sal
nbire blue streaked with white al
yellow spots, which fortunately h'
beeen perfectly restored. No 9TH
complete example of this kind of il
ported glass has hitherto been 1ouno
this country.-LOndon Times.