THE EXCAVATIONS 4T 



tion of tlie wall. In describing these defences in his 

 "Roman Britain^' (1903, p. 179) Conybeaxe says: "The 

 rampart consisted first of an outer facing of stone, then of 

 a core of concrete, and finally an earthen embankment 

 within, the whole reaching a width of at least four yards." 

 It is interesting to remember, in comparing this with 

 Melandra, that two at least of the Cirencester inscriptions 

 seem to belong to the end of the first or the beginning of 

 the second century, and that the coins found correspond 

 very nearly with those found at Melandra. (Same Proc. 

 XX. p. 262.) 



In attempting to decide if we have at Melandra a 

 parallel to either of these constructions, and especially to 

 that at the Saalburg, it will be better to state at the outset 

 what has actually been found there. The foundations of 

 the outer shell of the rampart rest upon the subsoil of 

 marly clay. Near the east gate they go down about two 

 feet into the clay, measuring to the underside of the flag 

 footings. The footings axe formed of four inch gritstone 

 flags, upon which the wall rests, being set back upon them 

 about eight inches. Beneath the footings are boulders 

 and lumps of gritstone of poorer quality. Only two 

 courses of dressed stones remain. The lowest consists of 

 blocks of the best gritstone, the outer surface of which has 

 been worked plain, while the inner projects for the purpose 

 of forming a key. The height of the courses varies from 

 eight to thirteen inches. The depth of the faced stones 

 from front to back averages about 1 ft. 6 in. We know 

 that at least one centurial stone was once built into this 

 outer facing, probably near the X.E. corner, where it was 

 afterwards found. Xow, one of the most important points 

 brought out by the excavations in 1905 is the fact, of which 

 there can hardly be any doubt (as a glance at the plan will 

 show), that this facing of ashlar masonry, the whole of 



