ON SILCHESTER EXCAVATION. 467 



(which was excavated in 1890-1), and to another insula (XXII) north of 

 XXI, extending nearly as far as the town wall. The total area examined 

 was about 5^ acres. The block plan shows the parts already excavated in 

 shaded tint. 



Inmda XXI appears to have been enclosed by walls on all four sides. 

 In addition to two houses occupying the northern corners, it had on its 

 eastern side a large house of the courtyard type, with another small house 

 to the south of it. At the south-east angle of the insula was situated an 

 oblong chamber with an apsidal end, perhaps the meeting room of some 

 trade guild. Other traces of buildings were found along the south side. 

 The south-west angle unfortunately underlies the modern roadway through 

 the city, and could only partly be examined. The western side contained 

 two small square structui'es. With regard to the houses, that at the 

 north-west corner was discovered in 1864 by the Rev. J. G. Joyce, who 

 communicated an account of it to Archceologia. It was, however, only 

 partly excavated by him, and additional chambers have now been found 

 on the south and east. The north-east house is one of the corridor type 

 that has become a courtyard house by later additions. In one of the 

 added rooms was a hypocaust of peculiar plan. The large house on the 

 east side is of interest from the several changes it has undergone, as well 

 as on account of the traces of a series of mosaic pavements of simple 

 character. The small house to the south is remarkable for the number of 

 pits and wells found beneath it. From these were extracted several whole 

 vases, some of an early type and excellent design. 



Instda XXII, tliough equal in size to the other, contained a large 

 amount of open ground in the centre and north-west. As there were no 

 .signs of a street on its eastern side, the portion excavated may form part 

 of a larger inaiila. Near the south-west angle was a good-sized house of 

 the corridor type, with a large chamber at one end terminating in an apse, 

 which had a hypocaust beneath it. A square chamber of some size which 

 had been added on one side has foundations of huge blocks of ironstone, 

 and the same material has been used in what appears to have been a re- 

 construction of the western part of the house. Besides this house, por- 

 tions of three others were found. Two of these were of very little interest. 

 The remains of the third inckide a square block subdivided into two 

 chambers of unequal size, with an apse attached to one side All these 

 had been warmed by hypocausts. 



As usual, a number of wells were met with, lined with wooden framing 

 towards the bottom. No architectui-al remains of any importance were 

 met with, save a piece of coping, part of a fluted Purbeck marble pilaster, 

 and a fragment of a white marble slab. The finds in bronze, iron, glass, 

 and bone were as numerous as usual, but do not call for special notice. 

 From the pits examined an exceptionally large number of entire vessels of 

 pottery were recovered, the total being about eighty. They include scA'eral 

 p.seudo-8amian vases of unusual quality, an inscribed drinking cup of 

 Castor ware, some large vessels of the coarse ware which is so seldom 

 found entire, &,c., etc. The coins found were not very numerous. 



A detailed account of all the discoveries was laid before the Society of 

 Antiquaries on May 3, 1900, and will be published in ^lrc/u«;o%irt, LVII. 

 A special exhibition of the antiquities, &,c., found, was held, as in former 

 years, at Burlington House. 



The statement of accounts for the year 1899 shows a total expendi- 

 tui-e of 515^. Os. 7d. 



H h2 



