§08 REPORT— 1903. 



It was about this period probably that Bremettenacum was finally built. 

 There is no definite evidence of its earlier origins, but it is known that a detachment 

 of the Sixth Legion (from York) completed some building work under Calpurnius 

 Agricola in the middle of the second century. It was garrisoned at one time by 

 a wing of Sarmatian cavalry (auxiliaries), and later by a body of Asturians. 

 It was connected in the military .scheme by roads into the Roman stations at 

 Manchester (Mancunium) and at Wigan (Coccium) to the south, with Overborough 

 (Galacum) and Lancaster (? liigodunum) to the north, and directly with the 

 legionary headquarters at York (Eboracum) by the road over the hills through 

 Ilkley (? Olicana). 



[A full description of the excavations and recent discoveries is given in the 

 excursion handbook for the Southport meeting.] 



7. Tlte Roman Fort at Brough. By John Garstang, B.Litt. 



Excavations of an exploratory character have been made during the past month 

 upon the Roman site at Brough, in Derbyshire, near to Hope village and station. 

 They have shown that the station there was military, being in fact a fortress of 

 the earlier class, built probably under Hadrian or Antoninus Pius, in the earlier 

 half of the second century. It corresponds in many particulars to the type of 

 forts along the wall ; though small in area it was stoutly built. Its outer walls 

 were nowhere less than six feet in tliickne.ss, and its praetorium was extensive, with 

 a remarkable strength of masonry. It had the usual four gateways and rounded 

 corners surmounted by turrets, and it was situated in the favourite position at 

 the junction of two streams. The outline of the fortress, the position of the prse- 

 torium and adjoining buildings, and the suggestion of other stone buildings within 

 the enclosure have been determined by these experimental excavations. In a 

 central position, possibly within the prajtorium itself, was disclosed a deep-walled 

 enclosure, with steps leading down from top to bottom. The masonry is charac- 

 teristically solid. In clearing out the refuse from this there were found, among 

 other remains, two inscribed altars, difficult to read, the one small and well carved 

 but broken, the other large and complete. Of more immediate interest were 

 portions of a large inscribed tablet which when put together proved to have been 

 about five feet in length, with a nice moulded border. The inscription dates from 

 the time of Antoninus Pius, and seems to have been set up by a prsefect of the 

 Fir.st Cohort of Aquitani under Julius Verus, then Governor of Britain. The 

 name of the prsefect appears to be new, but the contingent is known from monu- 

 ments found near Bakewell and elsewhere. 



The Council of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society are encouraged by these 

 tentative results to make a careful and systematic excavation of the whole site, 

 and cordially invite general interest and support. The inception of the scheme is 

 due to Mr. AV. J. Andrew, F.S.A., editor of the Society's journal, in which the 

 full account of the present and future discoveries will be" published from year to 

 year. 



8. Report of the Committee on the Silchester Excavations. 

 See Reports, p. 412. 



9. On a Prehistoric Drinking-vessel found near Burnley. 

 By Tattersall Williamson. 



The author described a number of urns found at Todmorden. The urns, whicli 

 are hand-made, are associated with a flint arrowhead, showing very fine workman- 

 ship, a bronze fibula, a pin, and a number of jet and bone beads. In the 

 central cinerary nrn, which was of a finer character, were found human remains, 

 and also an incense-cup and a food- vessel ; a microscopical examination of the 

 latter showed traces of its former contents. 



