RELICS OF THE ROMAN OCCUPATION, LITTLE CHESTER, DERBY. 85 



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belonging to Mr. Williams, here sketched, it occurred to him that 

 the brims of the earthenware ones may have fulfilled a similar 

 function to that of the square projection on this fragment, which 

 is undoubtedly Roman.* Probably it had three or four such 

 projections when complete, and undoubtedly their function, 

 like that of the rounded projections of the modern pharmacist's 

 marble mortar, was to hold the utensil in place when let into a 

 bench or table. In the earthenware mortaria the brims would 

 admirably serve a similar purpose, and sesthetically were well 

 adapted for it. 



Fig. I, plate vii., will explain the arrangement; a, a, represent 

 the table top in section, and b, b, that of the mortarium let into 

 it, the brim ledging upon the edge of the table top round the 

 hole, and thus furnishing a firm and steady support to the vessel. 

 The usefulness of such an utensil, fixed in such a manner, is so 



Fragments of similar stone mortaria have been found associated with Roman 

 remains in the City of London. 



