Chap. 7.] PARISH OF EIBCHESTER. 153 



An Altar dedicated to Mars and Victory. 



The Foundations of a Temple, erected about a.d. 214, and probably 

 dedicated to Minerva. 



Two fine Altars, dedicated to ApoUo and the Mother Goddesses. 



A small gold cup. 



An Altar erected in honour of the Emperor Caracalla. 



Helmet, etc., now in Townley collection. 



Eemains of a Eoman bath. 



Numerous gold coins bearing the imprints of Vespasian, Trajan, 

 Faustina, Mark Antony, Domitian, and Constantine. Silver and 

 bronze coins of the reigns of Hadrian, Septimus Severus, and 

 Augustus Caesar. 



Eev. Jon. Shortt, B.A., Vicar of Hoghton, has most kindly 

 furnished me with the following account of his recent excavations at 

 Ribche.ster : — 



" The most important discorery just made is that of the gate laid 

 open to view, in addition to the ascertainment of the precise size of 

 the camp at Ribchester. It was a square, or very nearly a square, of 

 619 feet; and one of its gates lay in the north-east angle, just in a 

 line with ' Stoney gate-lane,' a street in the village, whose name 

 betokens Roman origin. A part of this gate was found in situ. It is 

 now a solid beam of oak — not, however, entire. Some of the planks 

 •which led across the ditch have also been discovered. They likewise 

 are of oak : and so are a series of split beams found abutting on the 

 vallum or earth-rampart. 



" These were found in two excavations made on the western side. In 

 two others on the northern side they were absent ; but on arriving at 

 the north-eastern angle (which we may obsei-ve, in passing, is rounded), 

 they reappeared in force. They were not, however, as before, at right 

 angles to the rampart, but forming an obtuse angle with it ; and were 

 placed above large oak sleepers. It is a curious sight to notice below 

 so much earth a regular platform of oak shingles carefully laid. So 

 far as the writer knows, this is a novel feature in a Roman camp. It 

 is thought to have served the purpose of solidifying the ground close 

 to the rampart. AU over the camp enclosure the subsoil is gravel. 



