THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF WAREHAM. 159 



have come under my own observation. My aim has been to be 

 authentic, and I have endeavoured to point out in and around 

 the ancient British fortress, not by any means all I should like to, 

 but some of the places, objects, and relics appertaining to the 

 Roman period, and which in my opinion help to clear away some 

 of the doubts concerning the Roman occupation of Wareham. 



Though not belonging to the Roman period, other interesting 

 relics of antiquity have been unearthed at Wareham, of whose 

 discover)' few seem to be aware. 



1. The two bronze celts * taken from a small barrow adjoining 

 the King Barrow, Stowborough, in 1833. 



2. The coprolite found at a depth of 12 feet at Morden. Both 

 are shown in the photo of my collection of relics. 



3. The " remains of a large canoe or barge hollowed out from 

 the trunk of an entire tree," which Brannon informs us was 

 found with other naval remains in the bed of the river Frome, 

 between Wareham and Stowborough. If such were the earliest 

 boats made by prehistoric man, and only found deep in the beds 

 of ancient rivers, this discovery is worth consideration. 



4. " An early copestone,f about 2 feet 3 inches by 8 inches or 

 9 inches, indicating heart burial," formerly existing in Lady St. 

 Mary's Church. 



5 . A perfect square cresset stone containing five hollows, now 

 in Lady St. Mary's Church. It was discovered during some 

 excavations on the glebe land at North Port. 



6. During some excavations on the site of Wareham Mint a 

 small pair of ancient and curious balances with some small 

 weights were discovered and unfortunately disposed of. 



As I close my unavoidably imperfect paper the earnest wish 

 arises, would that an abler pen than mine would take the subject 

 up ! After long and deep research I am fully convinced that the 

 Roman occupation of Wareham is a subject which could, and 

 ought to be, placed beyond question. Only those who, like 



* See Hutchins' 3rd Ed., Vol. I., p. 100, and Purbeck Papers, p. 231. 

 f See Journal of Arch. Ass., Vol. XXVIII., pp. 301 and 302. 



