28 THE EXCAVATIONS 



were found the bases of two columns. These are 

 shown in the photograph resting on the bank above. They 

 are of much better workmanship than those found at 

 Brough,^" and bear a striking resemblance to those dis- 

 covered in situ in the building called the Prsetorium at 

 Borcovicium.^^ Each consists of two recessed tori on a 

 square plinth of 18| in. side. It requires no stretch of the 

 imagination to suppose that these once formed the bases 

 of columns in the colonnade of the headquarters building 

 at Melandra. The other objects found in excavating the 

 gateway include several voussoirs, one of excellent work- 

 manship, pieces of other columns of inferior style, and 

 fragments of millstones and of ornamented "Samian" 

 and other ware. The massive imposts which are such a 

 feature of the eastern gate, are entirely wanting at the 

 northern entrance. 



It may be mentioned here that in the course of 

 the excavations a number of the earlier (beehive- 

 shaped) querns have been thrown out. I have collected 

 no less than seven of these, found at Melandra (besides 

 base-stones), including at least three different patterns; 

 we have had these photographed, and Professor Boyd 

 Dawkins has dealt with them in his article. ^^ The frag- 

 ments of tiles were not so numerous as at the other gates, 

 e.g., the west gate, where the road was strewn with fallen 

 roof-tiles.^^ The road passing through the gate was 

 found to be in excellent preservation, having a hard sur- 

 face of concrete, raised to the level of the top of the first 

 course of dressed stones. 



One other find may be mentioned. On one of the 



10. Roman Brough. Proc. Derb. Arch. Soc, 1904, p. 19. 



11. Arch. Aelian., vol. xxv., p. 270. A beautiful photograph of the 

 Praetorium, showing the stones in situ, faces p. 193. 



12. See p. 8. Nearly all these querns are broken in two. 



13. Hamnett, Proc. Derb. Arch. Soc, vol. xxiii., p. 100. 



