ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE 



several skeletons were found there in 1846, and another urn containing 

 burnt bones in a gravel pit in i886. 78 A skeleton was exposed in 1872 

 about 8 ft. or 9 ft. from the surface in Sanvy Gate, outside the north 

 wall. At the head was a pot of Castor ware ornamented with a pattern, 

 and the word VITA in white slip, and at the feet was another pot 

 of ordinary Romano-British ware which appeared to have been subject 

 to the action of fire on the inside. Both pots are now in the Leicester 

 Museum. 77 



In the town itself, among others, a cinerary urn covered with a piece 

 of slate, containing burnt bones, was found in Horsefair Street, near the line 

 of the south wall in i876. 78 In Butt Close Lane, near the east wall, a 

 cinerary urn was discovered in 1854 5. 79 In Church Gate, also near the 

 east wall, an urn containing human bones, covered with what appeared to be 

 the iron boss of a shield, and two skeletons were found in 1866. The 

 remains of Saxon burials have also appeared in this part. 80 



Pottery. As is to be expected on the site of a Romano-British town, 

 great quantities of pottery and other miscellaneous articles have been from 

 time to time discovered over the whole area. It would serve no purpose to 

 record here exactly all the finds which have been made, but it will be well 

 to call attention to the important features of the discoveries of this nature. 

 With regard to the Samian ware a considerable quantity has been found, to 

 some extent indicating the wealth of the inhabitants. The Samian pottery 

 has the usual embossed designs of hunting scenes, figures, &c. One fragment 

 of a patera, with a hole in it probably for suspension, now in the Leicester 

 Museum, has scratched upon it VERECUNDA LYDIA LUCIUS GLADIATOR. 

 It was found in Bath Lane in 1854, and may be a love token from 

 Lucius the gladiator to the blushing Lydia (plate VI). Another piece was 

 found, which is also in the Leicester Museum, with VIIR or VER scratched 

 on it. The potters' marks, however, are of considerable interest as they 

 cover a wide area. 



The following names 81 are of the first century (La Graufesenque 

 fabric) : 



ABITI. LOGIRNI. M. OF. RUFINI. 



ALBINI. M. ) OF. LUCCE(l.) OF. SABl(N)l. 



ALBINVS. F. j MACRINVS. SECUN. F. 



OF. APRI. OF. MAPOMI. (?) SECUNDI. M. 



APRO. F. MARCI. M. L. TER. SECu(NDUS-) 



AVITI. M. MARTI. M. OF. SEVERI.l 



CARILLI. OF. M(A)TUG(EN)I. SEVERI M. j 



OF. CEN (SORIS)J METHILLVS. OF. SEVER(l) PUD(ENTIS.) 



OF. CENS. J OF. MODESTI. SILVAN1. 



OF. CRESI (? CRES(T)I.) OF. MONTANI. SILVI. OF. 



DONTI. OFFIC. OF. PASSIENI. SILVINVS. 



GERM. ) PATRICI. MA. SILVI. PATRICI. 



GERM(A)NI.J OF. PONTI. VITALIS. M. 



JUCUNDI. OF. PRIM(I.) 



' Rep. Com. Leie. Mtu. " Leic. Arch. Sx. iv, 185. 



78 Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. " Ibid. 



80 Post, ' Angl.-Sax. Remains ' ; Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. 



" The marks in this list have been identified by Mr. H. B. Walters, M.A., F.S.A., of the British 



Museum. 



I 201 26 



