16 



Spaniards, and that the oldest altars were buried nearest the 

 surface. Thus, we might fancy, with some degree of certainty, 

 that the altars were buried by the Baetasians. 



The date of Marcus Mcenius Agrippa being known, why did the 

 Spaniards of that date not take their altars away with them, or 

 bury them ? They were apparently followed in the camp by the 

 Dalmatians, and these in turn left their altars behind. Why was 

 this ? Why did they not take them away with them, or bury them 

 before they went ? The Spaniards apparently went to the front, 

 on active service ; for we find them after this north of the Antonine 

 Wall. Clearly they could not go on active service encumbered 

 with so many altars as it is clear they left behind them at the 

 Maryport camp. They therefore may have given them into charge 

 of their successors, viz., the Dalmatians, and these in turn to the 

 Bsetasians : and each apparently with the idea that they would 

 return at an early date to the camp. 



The Dalmatians once and for all disappear from the page of 

 British history, unless, indeed, we again meet with them under the 

 name " Dalmatian Horse," located, according to the Notitia, at 

 Branodunum and at Presidium. 



That the Spaniards did not return — at any rate, for one hundred 

 years^ — -we have almost conclusive evidence. Clearly the Spaniards 

 in garrison between 117 — 138 could not have buried the altars, as 

 in two pits at least, a Bsetasian altar was buried 7mder the Spanish 

 altars, whilst in another case a Bsetasian altar was buried under a 

 Dalmatian one. If, however, it be held that they have been buried 

 by Spaniards, these must of necessity have been the returned cohort. 

 But the evident intention to disinter the altars, points to the fact 

 of their leaving the station again, and, as I have already shown, 

 after a disaster. Thus a second return would be necessary in order 

 to point to any continuous residence even during the later times. 

 But such a return was not likely under the circumstances. Surely 

 they had a regimental tradition that their "holy things" had been 

 hidden. Then, why were they not disinterred? for we cannot 

 suppose that their absence was of very long duration. The ira- 



