154 T HE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF WAREHAM. 



little, if any, room to doubt, that a Roman pottery existed in the 

 locality of the cemetery, and that the refuse was scattered broad- 

 cast. Yes ! recent excavations have proved that both sand and 

 clay were obtainable within the ramparts. 



It is a matter for deep regret that excavations were not made 

 by competent persons before the cemetery became filled with 

 graves. From the skulls, bones, some of which had been 

 partially consumed by fire, charcoal, burnt flints, and other 

 similar matter unearthed at times when deeper graves were dug, 

 it is certain that there had been burials centuries previously, and 

 that fire had been associated with the burials. From the huge 

 stones unearthed when some of the graves had reached a depth 

 of six feet, it is evident that buildings had also existed there. 

 If Roman pottery had not been manufactured in the locality, we 

 may reasonably conclude that an extensive Roman dwelling 

 existed thereabouts, else, what is to account for such a consider- 

 able number of fragments of Roman pottery being constantly 

 found in the cemetery ? 



At a meeting of the Dorset Field Club, held December 8, 1897, 

 my own collection of pottery, numbering above fifty fragments, 

 including early British, Roman, and Samian, was exhibited with 

 other relics of various periods found in and around Wareham. 

 When this paper was read, December 15, 1898, fragments 

 representing 16 Roman vessels were again shown. Some of the 

 most curious, and unique in Wareham, were the portions of an 

 earthen vessel with perforated corners for hanging, discovered at 

 a depth of six feet in the cemetery, and which Mr. Bellows 

 considers are portions of a Roman cooking vessel. Mr. B. A. 

 Hogg asserts that these perforated fragments are undoubtedly 

 Roman, yet a peculiar kind of sand was used in the manufacture, 

 and it is a make of pottery new to him. Fragments of a similar 

 make were found in the same locality, and with them bones and 

 ashes. 



In Mr. Arthur S. Drew's collection there are fragments of 

 British, Roman, Samian, and Saxon pottery, and bronze orna- 

 ments, the majority of which were .unearthed in the cemetery. 



