228 ROMAN VILLAS DISCOVERED IN DORSET. 



artizans abounded in Britain, and were fetched to build 

 public and private edifices as far south as Autun.' (Roman- 

 ization, etc.) 



The Briton, as we know from the Quern found at Bagber, 

 was accustomed to grind com, but his method was as simple 

 as that of the African to-day ; the Roman Quern or Mill was 

 a great improvement which he would readily adopt. 



There is some uncertainty as to the introduction of the 

 Potter's Wheel. Early British pottery gives clear evidence 

 that it was made by hand, without the aid of the wheel. 

 For the smaller vessels this would be a simple matter. For 

 the larger ones it has been suggested that a basket would be 

 used as a foundation, and the clay gradually built up inside 

 until the whole was finished. Then, when fired, the basket- 

 work would be burnt off, leaving the marks of the reeds on 

 the outside like a pattern. It has been conjectured, indeed, 

 that this may very probably have first suggested the orna- 

 mentation of other pots made by hand. But on the other 

 hand, the British Museum Guide (Iron Age) is of opinion 

 that the pottery found in the Aylesford Cemetery, to which 

 is assigned a date of about 100 B.C., was all made on the 

 wheel and " shows a distinct advance on the rough hand- 

 made ware of the British Bronze Age." It is thought, too, 

 that traces of a Potter's Wheel have been found amongst 

 the relics from Glastonbury. But whenever, and by whom- 

 soever the wheel was introduced, it would greatly advance 

 the potter's art, and we may at least give Rome the credit of 

 teaching the Briton improvements in the art. 



Gardens — We have evidence from Pompeii, to mention 

 only the house of the Vettii, of a Roman's love of a garden. 

 We have also Pliny's description of his villa built at 

 Laurentium on the shores of the Tuscan Sea, near the mouth 

 of the Tiber. Writing on this subject Mr. Calthrop, in the 

 " Charm of Gardens," says " Whether a Roman living in 

 England ever built himself such a house it is difficult to prove, 

 since, so far as I can find, no remains ®f such a place are to be 

 seen. But when one considers the actual evidence of the 



