RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 227 



Romans at Tregaer would need to be in fair force. The camps 

 around are very extensive as well as numerous, and are spread 

 across the country in every direction. 



Those nearest to Tregaer are Castle Canyke or Kernick, 

 Dunmere, Pencarrow, and Killibury or Kelly Rounds, on the 

 east and north ; Castle-an-Dinas, Dennis, &c, and Castle Dor, 

 on the west and south. 



But perhaps this Roman camp was not so isolated as we 

 have hitherto been led to suppose, — for, other entrenchments, of 

 similar form apparently, have somewhat recently been traced in 

 the neighbourhood. These may have been constructed by the 

 same troops that occupied Tregaer, or by supporting cohorts. 

 We do not know whether there was, in or about the first century, 

 a complete legion stationed in Cornwall, but the name "Sebasta 

 altera legio " has been applied to Liskeard* (13 or 14 miles to 

 the east of Tregaer), and upon the silver goblet belonging to 

 the corporation of that Borough the word " Legio " is engraved. 

 A legion may therefore have been in occupation of this region. 



The quadrilateral earthworks recently noticed, however, are 

 in a direct line between Tregaer camp (at Nanstallon) and Port 

 Isaac (on the coast), 9 miles off, as the crow flies, almost due 

 north, and the intrenchments are near each other. 



From the shape of the camps, by their proximity to circular 

 earthworks, and from a comparison of them and of their positions 

 with others like them, in the Tregony, the Looe, and other 

 districts, I am inclined to believe that Roman troops from time 

 to time advanced into the heart of Cornwall from the sea coasts 

 and intrenched themselves close to British strongholds which 

 they desired either to capture or over-awe. The present case 



* Wright's court-hand (1815) with appendix of ancient names of places com- 

 piled from Antoninus, &c, &c, p. 34. 



" Eoman name of Liskeard as given in several Latin Dictionaries," History 

 of Cornwall, Lake, Truro, (1870), Vol. 3, p. 149. 



Lis, — a court or palace ; Caer, Kaer, gaer, — as in Tregaer, place of war. 

 Castrum, — a castle ; Castra (pi.) camp or barracks. Perhaps the Castle or Court 

 of the Earl of Cornwall at Liskeard was built upon the site of a Eoman earth- 

 work, — head quarters camp ; and the stones with Latin inscription, in raised 



letters, OLIM MARTI N...&C [COH ?]ORTEM...&c. may have been cut for some 



commemorative purpose at a later period, with allusions to old associations. 



