The record-union., 1899-07-08
present Of: them to the archaeological

present Of them to the archaeological
authorities.
Niger Lapis Ia Comitio locum funestum
Signiicat ut al Romuli morti destinatum
wrote Festus, the commentator Of the
writings OF Flaccus. The Comitipm
was a kind OF open air lobby or Sale
des Perydus for the Roman Senate. Near
the Comttium $ignor Boni found "a blaeiSs
stone, or, rather, q pavement of black
marble, thFe8 meters seventy five Gentle
meters by four meters in extent. The
slabs of black stone are very thick. Thef
pavement itself was protected by curb
of travertino, or ordinary Roman stone,a
and in the fourth or fifth century a.
marble. fence was erected around the
curb, which evidently implies that some
tradition of sanctity hung about the
spot. AS the use of black marble for
such purposes is most unusual, there
can scarcely be any doubt that this
black stone is what was called in the
old days THE Tomb of Romulus." The
origin of the stone is still uncertain. In
order to settle the question as to its
geological classification, Signor Bont
has had one fragment polished-aTp pro-
cess which has rendered it perfectly
evident that the stone is marble:
Whether it came from Greece or from
the Pyrenees, is uncertain, but in many
chateaux in Savoy remember having
seen chimney pieces made Of marble
from quarry in the Savoy Alps of pre-
cisely similar black marble, with veins
arranged in exactly the same way, ex-
cept that they were yellow in color in
stead Of being white, like the veins Of
the Niger Lapis." Explorations are
being carefully made under the Niger
Lapis in the Forum, and Signor Boni is
convinced that constructions of some
kind exist beneath it. What they are
is not vet certain. but we shall know
before long, Quite close to the Niger
Lapis have been found numerous me-
dieval wells, which are being pumped
out These wells are lined with frag-
ments of marble, much of it ninth cen
fury work, probably taken from the
original Church of Sergio and Bacco
These wells show how short the supply
of water must have been in medieval
Rome. The Tfber was putrid, the aque-
ducts had been cut, and wells We're sunk
close to the Cloaco Maxima, the main
sewer of Rome.
During the operations in the Forum
a road which bounded the north side Of
the Forum has been Laid bare. This
road was known to exist, but had never
been exposed. Signor Boni is inclined
to think that it is the original Via
Sacra, and that its discovery will neces-
state important notifications in the to-
Biography of the Forum.
In addition to these important discov-
cries much work has been done. The
basement of the Temple Of Saturn has
been strengthened with iron bars, which
were much needed. One of the fourth
century honorary columns has been set
up again, and another one will soon be
erected. The opening into the Cloaca
Maxima has very wisely been closed.
The entrance to the Forum has been
changed, and in future visitors will no
longer descend over the platform of the
Temple of Castor and Pollux as has
been their path for many years, but
will go down by a new staircase on to
the Vicus Tuscus-that street where
the Etruscan merchants had their shops
and sold incense, looking glasses and
dainties, wrapping up their wares, ac-
the minor poets. The Church of Saints
Cosmas and Damian,. originally the
Temple of Romulus, will be redeemed,
restored to its original form, and prob
ably used as small museum
Excavations are still in progress, and
further discoveries are anticipated
Rome Correspondent London News.