12 



well to seek corroborative evidence. Can we in any way determine 

 the date of the ten altars already alluded to ? Are they of the same 

 or of a later date than those whose dates we have approximately 

 fixed? To decide this, we shall have to consider as briefly as 

 may be, why, when, and by whom the altars were buried. This is 

 not an easy question to settle, but withal it is a very important one 

 when a satisfactory decision is to be arrived at regarding the name. 

 Two truths, which we might almost call axioms, seem to point out 

 the way for us. They are as follows :— If it can be proved that 

 they were all buried at an early date, then so far as altars are con- 

 cerned, therecould not be the slightest clueto the name Axelodunum, 

 for, as I take it, the large majority of the altars found at Maryport, 

 (including those found before 1870,) and certainly of the altars 

 with intelligible inscriptions, were buried at one and the same time, 

 and at one and in the same place. If, on the other hand it can be 

 shown that they were buried at a late date, then the probability 

 that the name is Axelodunum is strengthened, though by no means 

 is there certainty even then. 



The great question to be determined is — whyv^exQ they buried? 

 Dr. Bruce* supposes that the cohort in garrison withdrew in order 

 that it might help in defending other stations that had been 

 attacked, and that, before going, they buried their altars. 



This seems a very plausible reason, and at almost any other 

 station, would have been accepted without dissent. But it should 

 be remembered that Maryport, by whatever name it was then known, 

 was the key to both their eastern and southern communications. 

 As I showed in "The Maryport Camp — Who was its Founder ?"t 

 that they should as a body willingly leave so important a position 

 entirely at the mercy of the enemy, even to help in defending 

 stations at a distance, seems scarcely the action of a military people 

 like the Romans. Of course, such a proceeding would quite 

 answer the question why the altars were buried, for the retiring 

 cohort could scarcely take them with them " to the front." Still, 

 under certain circumstances, even this method may have been 



*Cumb. and West. Antiq. and Arch. Soc. Joum., July 17, 1870, p. 175. 

 t Transactions, part ix., p. 67. 



