108 Examination of the Roman Station at Baydon. 
nor are there any fragments whatever of the crude ore. One fact, 
and that a very interesting one, is clearly established, viz., that 
common bituminous coal was used for working the iron, for it was 
constantly found among the slag and cinders. Is not this one of 
the earliest instances known in this country of the use of coal for 
that purpose?! Two or three massive pieces of iron have been 
dug up, but they have the appearance of being pig iron, and may 
have been brought there to be manufactured. One of these 
pieces has a rough uneven surface, and is about fourteen inches 
long, by three inches thick. It is now in the possession of Lord 
Craven. 
It may be mentioned that the shells of the common snail (Helix 
aspersa) were abundantly found, and as they do not usually live on 
the open downs, we are inclined to think that they were brought there 
for food. The inhabitants of this retired spot had however the 
means of gratifying a more aldermanic taste, as was proved by finding 
horns and bones of the red deer; bones of ox and sheep were also 
plentiful. It is probable that the people who occupied this place 
were Romanized Britons, who in the troublous times which 
succeeded the departure of the Romans, lived for a short period in 
the remote valley of Botley. Had they occupied the ground for 
any considerable length of time, there would have been greater 
accumulations of the scoria and other rubbish which mark the sites 
of human habitations. They were a poor people. Of this we have 
proof in the facts that they possessed no fine Samian ware. Their 
pottery, though of a Roman type, is of a rude make, and of coarse 
material. They had no sudatoria, no tessalated pavements, nor 
were there other indications of Roman luxury. Their dwellings 
were apparently little better than those of the ancient Britons. 
Pit coal was used by them, and stone tile derived from the sand- 
stones of the Coal measures; hence we may conclude that they 
made use of the fine road which the Romans had constructed for 
bringing their materials from the western counties. Though 
retaining little of the refinement and luxury of their Roman 

* Coal was found by the late Mr. Cunnington at the British (? Roman) village 
on Knook-down. ‘* Hoare’s Ancient Wiltshire,” vol. i., p. 85. 

