162 Eecent Excavations at Birrens. 



was found in No. XI., and the building's probably served the pur- 

 pose of food stores. 



The opposite frontage is wholly occupied by two large build- 

 ings, numbered respectively IV. and VIII. on the plan. The latter 

 is peculiar, inasmuch as it exhibits partition walls separating the 

 area into house-like apartments. Unfortunately, owing to the lines 

 being incomplete and the want of indications of doorways, the con- 

 nection of the several spaces is not clear. The former (IV.), 

 judging by its dimensions and general character, would appear to 

 have been one of the most important buildings in the station. The 

 only exterior wall of which substantial remains exist is the front 

 one. It is of superior workmanship, 2 feet 10 inches thick, and 

 buttressed. There were fifteen heavy buttresses towards the 

 street, each showing a projecting base, finished with splayed and 

 neatly hewn top course (plate IIlA.) ; a thick wall, crossing it from 

 north to south, divided the building in the centre ; and the floor 

 was raised high above the ground, and supported on walls form- 

 ing intervening ducts for the distribution of air, possibly heated, 

 soot being found in them. 



The west end of the building recedes a little from the line of 

 the north and south street, forming a sort of square, just in front 

 of the praetorium. In this recess there is a stone plat, measuring 

 5 feet each way, and raised a step above the level of the street. 

 At one place it is much worn, as if by the movement of the 

 feet — the mark, it may be, where the sentinel in charge of the 

 standard stood. 



Other buildings in the station may be classed in three groups. 

 One embraces the large blocks I., II., and III. in the south-east 

 area, stretching between the longitudinal street and the east ram- 

 part. So far as has been discovered, these were undivided. Being- 

 separated only by eavesdrops 2 feet 6 inches in width, the door- 

 ways would, it may be presumed, be in the end walls, and what- 

 ever light there was would probably be admitted at the roof. 

 Another group consists of corresponding buildings V., VI., and 

 VII. in the south-west space. They are differentiated by longi- 

 tudinal division walls, one in each. x\ll the buildings in the north 

 part of the camp, XVI. to XXIX., comprise the third group. The 

 northmost, east and west of the longitudinal street, appear in some 

 respects to be exceptional, but the others exhibit uniformity. 

 These are very narrow as compared with the buildings in other 



