THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. XXXIX. 



defrayed the whole expense of the removal from Portland and provided 

 the three new cases in which they are exhibited. 



We have also acquired by the gift of Sir George Meyrick, Bart., 

 through the good offices of Mr. Henry Symonds, 25 British bronze coins, 

 a portion of those found during the excavations at Hengistbury Head 

 in 1911-1912. They are stated by Mr. Bushe-Fox in the Report of the 

 Society of Antiquaries to be of a type of exceptional interest, as it 

 represents the very last stage of the gold stater of Philip II. of Macedon, 

 the head and chariot having become nothing but meaningless dots and 

 lines. Nearly 3,000 pieces were found, and were subsequently examined 

 by Mr. G. F. Hill, of the British Museum, who described them as being 

 partly of the usual " South Western " struck class, and partly of the 

 peculiar cast class, now called the " Hengistbury " class, many of which 

 remained in mint condition. In some parts of the settlement masses 

 of coins, numbering 600 or 700, were found together, and had 

 evidently been deposited in bundles, possibly wrapped in basket work, 

 and it is therefore suggested that they were minted on the spot. 



In view of the sad loss we have all sustained by the death of our much 

 respected and talented friend, Dr. Colley March, I must refer at rather 

 greater length to his last gift to the Museum. Within a very few days 

 of his death he sent to me a collection of bone, flint, and bronze objects, 

 and also broken pottery, which he had himself found near Portesham, 

 and which he considered a proof that the site had been occupied by 

 succeeding races through many centuries. I cannot do better than 

 give, in his own words, the notes that accompanied his gift, so that 

 they may be recorded in the Proceedings. 



" At a distance of exactly six furlongs due west of St. Peter's Church, 

 Portesham, there is a deep valley hollowed by running water called 

 ' Springs ; ' it is marked as it descends by a number of ' Vents,' 

 through which this water, as it gradually became subterranean, used 

 to escape. But the valley now is dry until its lower part is reached, 

 where the water, unable to penetrate a bed of clay, is turned out, and 

 flows on to the Fleet. 



In former days, when streams flowed from the Vents, this valley was 

 a good place for sheep-folds and cattle pens, and, under a favourable 

 light, there can be seen on its sloping sides, the lines of ancient en- 

 closures. 



To the west of this valley there is a wide shelf of meadow land, 360ft. 

 above the sea, protected from the North by the slope which rises to a 

 height of 600ft. 



On this charming spot, about 15 years ago, a gamekeeper's house was 

 built, and when the preliminary trenches lift, deep were made, I care- 

 fully inspected them and the excavated earth. I discovered evidence 

 that this very site had been selected for a dwelling-place all through 



