THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF AYARKHAM. 15- 



urns and vases, are in my own collection, some being exceedingly 

 thin and almost black. At the same time and place some 

 Roman beads and a fragment of Samian ware were found. In 

 Hutchins and Ancient Dorset, it is stated that fragments of a 

 species of fine red glazed pottery, distinguished by the name of 

 Samian ware, has been found in all the Romanised settlements 

 of the Britons. At two places in Wareham, in North Street and 

 in the cemetery, pieces of Samian ware have been found. 



When the foundations of the Wesleyan Chapel in North Street 

 were dug in 1896, some fragments of Roman pottery were 

 discovered at a depth of four feet, and with the fragments 

 portions of the skull of a bird. * It is much to be regretted that 

 this spot, and the site of All Saints' Church near, were not 

 thoroughly examined before being again built upon. The latter 

 especially because, in addition to the fragments of Roman 

 pottery, Roman beads and Samian ware were found upon the site. 

 Whilst the gardens adjoining the West Wall, at West Port, were 

 being dug in 1897, several fragments of Roman pottery were 

 found. 



When the foundations of some cottages were being dug in 

 Mill Lane, in June, 1898, a number of fragments of Roman 

 pottery were unearthed, and a piece of British was also found ; 

 many of these fragments were unfortunately carted away with the 

 soil. During some excavations in Mill Lane, on January 6, 1899, 

 at some depth, 14 fragments of Roman pottery were unearthed. 

 Fig. 4 on Plate xxi. of the Purbeck Papers shows the handle of a 

 vessel precisely similar to one found among the above-mentioned 

 fragments. The handle was for the finger, not the hand. Some 

 pieces represent a lagena ; others are ornamented with the 

 cross-lined pattern so common upon Roman pottery. The above 

 are in the possession of Mr. Albert Laws. 



*XOTE. Writing of Koman relics discovered at Christchurch, Hants, 

 Mr. Warne says : " At Christchurch a curious sacrificial deposit, consisting of 

 the bones of a cock, &c., was found at the base of a mound, on which I believe 

 the castle of De Redvers was built. A similar deposit was found at the base of a 

 mound at Lewes." 



