Excavation of a Roman Well near Silbury Hill. 167 
With the willing assistance of Mr. Arnold (the tenant), Mr. 
Willis, Sen., and Mr. Willis, Jun., of Beckhampton, and Mr. 
Brown, of Avebury, we began work on the morning of July 14th, 
1896, and by 6 o’clock that evening had excavated to the depth of 
13ft. Almost from the beginning of the work “finds,” such as 
fragments of Romano-British and other pottery and flint flakes, 
were continually coming to hand. These were, however, un- 
doubtedly in the material used for filling up the well in recent 
times. 
At about 6ft. from the surface the well assumed somewhat of an 
oval form, and having by this time removed the greater part of 
the material used to fill in the subsidence of recent years many 
specimens of Roman and Romano-British pottery, both red and 
black, iron nails, local red ware, and oyster and snail shells were 
found. 
At a distance of 8ft. from the top a small bronze finger ring was 
discovered, which was quickly followed by a small bronze “ steel- 
yard,’ one end of which is complete and the centre balance ring 
and a remnant of bronze wire which supported the counterpoise 
intact. Only one small coin of bronze was found during the day, 
but another was discovered on the following day. These Sir John 
Evans has kindly identified, stating them to be of Arcadius, 383— 
395 A.D., and Theodosius II., 408—450 A.D. 
During the next 3ft. nothing of importance was met with, but 
at about 16ft. from the surface we found a beautiful specimen of a 
red deer horn pick, and at about the same place several broken 
fragments of deer antlers, but in too crushed a condition to allow 
_ of any conjecture as to their having been utilised as picks. 
About the same time a curious piece of antler, about 6in. long, 
tapering to a point, was discovered. This shows signs of having 
been rubbed, pointed, or polished, and Mr. William Cunnington, 
to whom it was shown, says ‘‘ It is no doubt one of the crown tines 
of red deer, but whether the smooth point is all man’s work or 
mostly done by the deer it is difficult to say. That it has been cut 
by man is apparent. It could not have been used as a pick from 
its position on the horn.” 
“VOL, XXIX.—NO. LXXXVII. N 
