Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-13
ROMAN BONES FOUND.
Relics of the Twentieth Legion I'm
earthed at Chester, England.
From the London Standard.

From the London Standard
The extension of the infirmary at Ches-
ter has led to the discovery of the grave
ward used by the 10th Legion OF the
Romans during their occupation of that
city.
The Chester Infirmary occupies site
which is locally referred to as the
plague field The site seems to nave
ACQUIRED its unsavory name from the fact
that casual discoveries of human remains
in the infirmary field in years gone by
had led to the superstition that they were
the victims of the great plague. Inc re-
cent unearthing of remains In larger
the infirmary led to an investigation by
Prof. Robert NewStead, who now reports
that the evidence proves concluslVeiy tnat
the infirmary field was not used as
burying ground during the outbreak OF
the plague and that all the burials which
have been so far unearthed belong to the
Roman period.
Four distinct types Of graves have been
uncovered. One is tomb formed or
local sandstone. evidently representing
burial of some Importance, as the walls
of the tomb are covered in plaster, and
the dome of the structure originally stood
out in marked contrast to the surround
ing surface Of the land, forming dis
tinct tumulus. Some of the graves were
formed by placing Roman roofing tiles
bearing the stamp OF the 10Th Legion
upon the floor and also at the sides. the
legionary stamps always facing inward.
Another tyre of burial was formed by
placing roughly hewn sandstone so that
V-shaped trough was formed for the
reception of the body. fourth type of
grave consists of a simple trench dug in
the solid clay at depth. of not more
than two feet from the original land sur
face.
The Roman origin of the graves is
borne out by the fact that bronze coins
nf the E,mnorOrc AnfnninnS Pins and
Commodus have been found in them.
Such coins were placed usually in the
mouth of the deceased. and are generally
referred to as ''Charon's passage fare"
to expedite the passage of the souls
across the Styx, as it was believed that
the person who had not received the
usual rites of burial, and in whose mouth
no fee for the ferryman of the Stygian
lake had been placed. would wander
hOpelessly on it's banks. while a decent
interment and small coin would obviate
any disagreeable inquiries that Charon
might else be inclined to make.
Another interesting discovery in one
of the graves is terra Gotta lamp, which
was also one of the usual offerings to
the dead. and served as emblem of
immortality. This was probably filled
with oil and placed in the grave lighted.
number of large nails. probably SYM
bolical of time or money, as well as re-
mains of Roman sandals, have been
found in many of the graves. The last
Roman grave just uneartheI in the
process of excavation contained three
urns, in one of which was a metal mir
rOr.
In removing the clay which formed
the floor OF one of the graves there was
found a stone implement belonging to the
Neolithic period. Prof. Newstead re-
CARDS this discovery as exceedingly in
teresting, as affording further evidence
that Chester was in all probability prior
to the Roman occupation inhabited by
early man.