AN^ EXPLOKATIOX OF TREGAER ROrNBS. 83 



wheel, it is rude enough to be considered to "be hand-made, or 

 made on a plate which was turned with one hand while the other 

 shaped the clay, a sort of midway process between hand and 

 wheel-made. 



This process is carried on to-day at Ordessan, in the 

 Pyrenees, where each housewife makes her own household pottery 

 in this way. The vessels are then filled with and packed with 

 dry fern which is set on fire and the whole covered over with 

 earth and dry sods so as to form a sort of smother kiln. " The 

 result is said to be a ware much resembling the rude hand-made 

 pottery of primitive times. 



The pot sherds are clearly pre-roman, and the formation 

 and occupation of Tregaer Rounds may be reasonably ascribed 

 to that period. The Romans, although passing by it in their 

 journeys to their station at St. Minver, apparently neglected it as 

 a stronghold, for not a single object was discovered during the 

 exploration, which possessed any sign of Roman influence. 



The conclusion arrived at, in the light of the finds, is that 

 Tregaer Rounds was a fortress of the period which may be 

 conveniently described as the early iron age. 



Permission to explore Tregaer Rounds was very readily 

 given by the owner, Mr. J. B. Forteseue, of Boconnoc, and for 

 this the explorers are very grateful. 



With the hearty co-operation of the occupiers of the land, 

 Messrs Hawken and Harris, the -work of exploration ran on 

 smoothly and pleasantly, and there was no lack of efficient 

 labour. 



7 Archl. Journal, lix. No. 3, p. 225. 



