1882.J Mr. Alfred Taylor on Homan Antiquities, &c. ^ 29 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, March 3, 1882. 



William Bowman, Esq. LL.D. F.R.S. Honorary Secretary and 



Vice-President, in the Cliair. 



Alfred Ttlob, Esq. F.G.S. M.B.L 



Moman Antiquities recently found in London, 



The speaker began by referring to some Eoman remains discovered 

 near Warwick Square, E.G. London, last year, about nineteen feet below 

 the present surface ; and with remarks on a series of diagrams illus- 

 trating the history of Roman London, and its site, boundaries, walls, 

 and streets, and the principal roads issuing from it to other parts of 

 the island. 



Many specimens of the relics discovered and large drawings of 

 others were exhibited. They will go to the British Museum, on loan. 



The collection includes several cinerary urns, containing tha 

 results of the cremation of human bodies. One urn, fifteen inches 

 high, was of glass. A remarkable turned vase of stone was found. 

 Four of the urns were inclosed in leaden ossuariae, made without 

 solder ; some of the remainder were protected by roofing tiles. 



On the inside of one ossuarium was an emblem of Mithra, the 

 Persian sun-god. The lecturer explained its difference from the 

 emblem chosen by the Emperor Constantino. It differs from the 

 early Christian labarum in being an eight-rayed cross without the R. 



In reference to the ossuariae, Mr. Tylor said that the arts of smelt- 

 ing and working lead were practised and probably invented in this 

 country in very ancient times ; and that at Avignon and Lyons he saw 

 Roman lead-work, bearing the inscription " Cantius," i. e. " a Kentish- 

 man." Another British word, Cimobarrus, was found on lead-work 

 at Caistor near Peterboro'. This specimen is now in the British 

 Museum. ^ 



The coins found during Mr. Tylor's excavations were dated from 

 A.D. 46 to 300. The date of the Mithraic emblem was considered to 

 be soon after a.d. 50, much earlier than that on the Portland Vase. 



Suggestive remarks were made on the probably advanced stage of 

 civilisation in Britain at the time of the Roman invasion indicated by 

 the statements of contemporary historians and other sources. 



In conclusion, Mr. Tylor stated that the greatest care had been 

 taken to lay down the exact position of each article found, on a plan, 

 and that this would be published in the ' Archselogia ' shortly. 



