A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



defence appear on the north and south sides, but they are more like natural 

 depressions of the ground than artificial excavations. 



The walls do not appear to have been backed by any mound, though 

 Harrod, who thoroughly knew the ground, considers there was one. It would 

 unquestionably have strengthened the defences ; but its existence must remain 

 an open question. At other fortresses of late date, Richborough and Peven- 

 sey, there is no mound, which is a frequent feature of earlier fortifications (ist 

 and 2nd centuries), but with these latter the scheme of defence differs from that 

 adopted for the forts of the Saxon Shore. Unhappily there is but little 

 chance of making further discoveries in the inclosed area, as the ground has 

 been dug over for gravel and clay for many years, and the greater part of the 

 central space has been carried away. No excavations would now reveal 

 traces of the officers' quarters ; the barracks for the men, the granaries, the 

 stables, the treasury, or the shrine for the standards, all are gone without any 

 record except perhaps one slight trace of the baths. Ives, a writer of the 

 1 8th century, describing the ruins in his day speaks of a mound within the 

 walls near the south gate, apparently of considerable size. By the time of 

 Harrod's explorations so much digging appears to have been done hereabouts 

 that a doubt exists as to the existence of this hill. However, Harrod cut a 

 trench across what remained of it, and at a pcint some distance to the west 

 of where the south gate of the station formerly stood came upon the foun- 

 dations of a small chamber, the south side of which was formed by the wall of 

 the station. It was i6ft. 6 in. square, and had along its south side a flue 

 formed of flanged tiles with some indication of a furnace outside at the south- 

 east corner. One fragment of the west wall remained with signs of plastering 

 upon it, and there was nothing further to be discovered. It is quite possible 

 that the chamber was one forming part of the baths of the station. 



The cemetery of the fortress, which has never been properly explored, 

 is supposed to have occupied the field outside the eastern wall. Out of three 

 or four cinerary urns said to have come from Burgh two figured by Ives are 

 distinctly Anglian. There is little more to be said of finds. In levelling part 

 of the hill about 1770 Ives reported the uncovering of a stratum of quantities 

 of ashes and broken vases and a silver spoon, just the contents of a dust heap.* 

 It must be noted that the coins turned up are mostly those of the later 

 emperors. 



One or two other matters require attention before quitting the neigh- 

 bourhood of Gariannonum. If this fortress was intended, as conjectured with 

 very good reason, to have been built where it stands for the purpose of closing 

 the waterway of the Waveney, it seems impossible that the sister river close 

 by could have been left with no defence. Roman remains have been found 

 at Reedham, 2 miles up the Yare from Breydon, which might indicate a 

 small post for watching and signalling purposes. On a hill close to the river 

 (the Yare) mounds showed an inclosure, and the foundations of a tower 

 were discovered, a tower from which signals could be transmitted to the big 

 station beside the Waveney,' for it must not be overlooked that the course of 

 the Yare, though of less importance, required watching as well as the Waveney, 



' Ives, Garian. (2nd ed.), 1 803. 



' Norf. Arch, iv (1855), 314-1 5. The mounds mentioned have long since vanished, with anything that 

 stood on or by them carted away for gravel. 



286 



