EXCAVATIONS ON ROMAN SITES IN BRITAIN. 401 



APPENDIX A. 



Excavations at Caerwent, 1904-5. By T. Asiiby, jun., D.Litt., F.S.A. 



(a) Report tipon the Investigation of the Mo2ind. — Upon the south, 

 west, and north sides of the city traces have been found, within the city 

 wall, of an earlier defence, in the form of a mound of very hard red clay 

 — the local clay, but more compact and binding than this clay in its 

 natural state : it can be recognised by its hardness when excavated, 

 though there is but little difference in colour, and, further, by the exist- 

 ence on its surface of small pieces of charred twigs, which occur in less 

 amount all through it. Just below it, too, there is also a layer of charred 

 stuff — as if the brushwood on the site had first been set on fire, and as if 

 that which grew on the top of the mound had also been burnt once or 

 more. 



After the necessary profile measurements had been taken, the mound 

 was cut into in several places. The first section to be described was that 

 to the S. of Room of ' House XII.' The material was here, as elsewhere, 

 very hard red clay, with pebbles in it ; 13 feet below grass level, at 

 10 feet from the wall of the courtyard (which interrupts its backward 

 slope), a pocket of charred stuff and burnt bones was found, with some 

 pottery, including figured terra sigillata, and the bottom of one terra 

 sigillata Y&se, with inscription, OF. APRO {C.I.L. vii. 1336. 78). Under 

 the mound itself one small piece of bronze, one bit of terra sigillata, one 

 bit of pottery with rough black paste, and some grey pottery were found. 



Another partial section was made a little further W., to the S. of 

 Room 15 of 'House XII.' Here the crest of the mound was found to 

 have been 5 feet only below ground. The hard clay layer was only 

 4 feet 7 inches thick at the crest and 3 feet on each side ; it consisted 

 mostly of dark clay, with a lighter layer between. Under it were found 

 several bones and a flake of flint, also a bone pin and several pieces of 

 pottery. The earth below it is gravelly, with chips of limestone in it. 

 Below this, again, comes natural hard red clay. Immediately to the W. 

 of the S. gate the mound was found to slope away in all directions, 

 showing clearly that there was a break in it to let the road out. A good 

 photograph of this portion was obtained. To the E. of the S. gate it was 

 not found at first,' but eventually a limekiln was found cutting into the 

 mound, which was perhaps used by the builders of the wall. 



A similar section on the W. side of the city, W. of ' House VII.,' a 

 little way S. of the W. gate, is published in the Caerwent Excavation 

 Committee's Report for 1901.'^ Here there was a road at the bottom of 

 the backward slope of the mound, on the further edge of which was the 

 W. wall of the house. When the wall was constructed the house was 

 extended over part of the road and the level slightly raised, inasmuch as 

 the space between the mound and the city wall was naturally filled up. 



On the W. side of the city the mound has been traced, and its profile 

 ascertained a little way E. of the N. gate.-' It is intended to make 

 investigations at other points further E. 



' The excavations here were, owing to the presence of a walnut-tree (since 

 removed), carried on under difficulties. A section is given in Caerm. Coram Report 

 for in04 {Arclueologia, vol. lix., pi. Ixvi.). 



^ Archtrologia, vol. Iviii., jdI. ix. 



' See Caeriv. Coinm. Report for 1901-3 iArchcr.ologia, vol, lix.), 



1006. DD 



