218 
shells in great numbers. The plane, grid-iron and lamp are of 
rare occurrence in Roman remains. Perhaps the most valuable 
discovery was a Roman Legionary Eagle, now in the Duke of 
Wellington’s possession. 
The white of the tessere, Dr Woodward thinks, was de- 
rived from beds of white lias, or Great Oolite, but I believe it is 
from the latter, and it is probably, as Mr Witchell suggested, 
from the compact limestone of Sapperton or Bussage, which 
he recognised when the Club visited Uriconium and Cranham. 
as occurring at those places. 
A great deal of ground is still unexcavated, but owing to 
the interest taken in the work by the Proprietor, the Duke of 
Wellington—who has entrusted what has to be ‘done to the 
Society of Antiquaries, who, in their turn, have the loving 
services of Dr Fox and Mr St. John Hope—we may rest 
assured that every care will be given in the further prosecution 
of the excavations. 
In comparing Silchester with our Roman remains or 
Woodchester, Lydney, and Chedworth, it appeared to me from 
the coarser character of the tessere, that in the former 
we have the remains of a large station, whose inhabitants 
belonged more to the trading class; whilst the latter, from 
evidence of greater luxury, were occupied by those of a higher 
rank. 
With regard to its older history, it was a city of the 
Atrebates—a Celtic tribe of Gauls—who had dispossessed the 
earlier British inhabitants, Segontii. The Chief, or King, was 
Cornmius, Cesar’s friend, whose coinage is still in existence. 
Caer Segont became Calleva, and Calleva, Silchester, but how it 
became the latter there is much difference of opinion. The 
prefix, ‘ Sil’, was ably dealt with in the notes on Silbury, given to 
me by Mr Ernest Sibree, which will be found at page 117 of our 
last proceedings. The writer in the Times suggests that “its 
source is to be sought in Saxon rather than in Roman times, 
This would make the etymology of Silchester “Sel Caestre,” of 
the Camp in the woods. And whosoever has visited the place, 
hemmed in on one side by the dark pine forests of Tadley, and 
+h haa ee 
