Chap. IV. OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS. 181 



Roman emperors, datiug from 133 to 361, and 

 perhaps to 375 a.d., were likewise found. 

 Also a half-penny of George I., 1715. The 

 presence of this latter coin seems an anomaly ; 

 but no doubt it was dropped on the ground 

 during the last century, and since then there 

 has been ample time for its burial under a 

 considerable depth of the castings of worms. 

 From the different dates of the Roman coins 

 we may infer that the building was long 

 inhabited. It was probably ruined and 

 deserted 1400 or 1500 years ago. 



I was present during the commencement of 

 the excavations (August 20, 1877) and Mr. 

 Farrer had two deep trenches dug at opposite 

 ends of the atrium, so that I might examine 

 the nature of the soil near the remains. 

 The field sloped from east to west at an angle 

 of about 7° ; and one of the two trenches, 

 shown in the accompanying section (Fig. 8) 

 was at the upjDer or eastern end. The 

 diagram is on a scale of ^ of an inch to an 

 inch ; but the trench, which was between 4 

 and 5 feet broad, and in parts above 5 feet 

 deep, has necessarily been reduced out of all 

 proportion. The fine mould over the floor 



o 2 



