228 BECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 



supports this view. That the camps, British and Roman, were 

 not mere police stations seems to be evident from their martial 

 appellations, the term war-place being connected with so many 

 of them. The numerous tumuli, in and around them, are also 

 grim indications of fighting with loss of life, and this might 

 naturally have been expected. 



A garrisoned camp in the vicinity of mines may have 

 exercised a controlling influence over the natives, and been the 

 means of preserving order and preventing robbery, but in keeping 

 order, protecting trade, and obtaining supplies, the soldiers in a 

 country not their own were probably more of warriors than peace 

 officers. 



In tracing the origin of Hundreds and Tithings, Mr. Coote 

 has observed that the " Milites Stationarii* " of the Romans, — 

 (the military on police duty), have not sufficiently attracted the 

 attention of archaeologists. He points out that Kellermann has 

 not mentioned them, although his work treats of every other 

 form of soldiery under the Roman empire ; that Cardinali, 

 Gxotefend, Zell, and Dr. Smith are also silent with regard to 

 them, — the last named, in his Classical Dictionary, giving as 

 outlying stations only those which were purely martial or fiscal. 



The Milites Stationarii were no part of the ancient con- 

 stitution of Rome but owed their origin to Augustus. That 

 emperor posted " stationes " with officers and men in opportune 

 places to restrain armed robbers, thus instituting police and 

 police magistrates, the latter being the centurions in command. 

 The stationarii acted both as soldiers and police. In the 

 investigation of a charge the suspected person was arrested, 

 searched and interrogated, the rack being used when ordinary 

 persuasion failed. 



Thieves, fugitive slaves, Christians, &c, were thus brought 

 to account, before the centurions, who either discharged them 

 or committed them for trial and prosecuted them. The 

 stationarii were generally placed in centres of population and 

 for the most part were quartered in towns under Roman sway. 



*Arch£eologia, Vol. 44, p. 299. H. C. Coote, F.S.A., 1872. 



