246 RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN CORNWALL. 



difficulty, only small tools being then in use. Bronze celts and 

 wooden spades (some of them perhaps edged with iron), were 

 probably the chief digging implements employed by the Romans 

 at Bossens. In these days, of course, with modern tools the 

 sinking of such a pit or shaft would be less tedious. Iron pick 

 and gad have taken the place of the bronze celt, so have the 

 iron bar, the handy beat-axe or biddix, and the heavy visgey. 

 The wooden spade, too, has been superseded by the iron shovel 

 or showl (with long handle and no cross-piece), so dexterously 

 wielded by Cornishmen, in so different a style from all " up- 

 eountry " modes of spading. The Roman spade (pala) had a 

 cross-bar for handle, and another above the blade enabling it to 

 be driven to extra depth. 



But now to conclude our remarks on the objects dug out of 

 the Well. 



They resemble in some respects Roman remains found 

 elsewhere. 



The leaden jug (A) bears a striking resemblance (Mr. 

 Haverfield informs me) to one of tin which was dug up at Caer- 

 hays,* in 1869, containing (as I have ascertained from various 

 sources) more than 2000 3rd century Roman bronze coins (small 

 brass). I observe also that it resembles another jug or pitcher 

 which was discovered in Somersetshire a few years ago, which 

 has been figured and thus described : — "A pewter vessel found 

 at East Harptree f containing nearly 1500 4th century Roman 



* Perhaps from Caer or G-aer and hays, — camp enclosures, castle closes ; but 

 haz or heys also signifies length. Caer-heys might therefore be castle of length, 

 i.e long or oblong camp, and is suggestive of a Roman fort. As to the find, see 

 Roy. Inst, of Corn. Journal, Vol. 3, No. 12, p. xxi, and p. xxix. The leaden jug 

 is at Carhayes. Of the coins found, about 1600 passed into the hands of Mr. 

 Williams, but one of the finders now dead, retained about 1000. Some of both 

 portions have since been given away, 30 to the Museum at Truro, 28 to Mr. "W. 

 C. Borlase, about 100 to Wisbeach Museum, &c. Over 1300 remain at Carhayes, 

 and have been sorted by Mr. Haverfield. About 800 have been lent to me by the 

 kindness of Mr. Dunn who had acquired them, and these I have examined and 

 have since forwarded to Mr. Haverfield, who has obligingly promised to make a 

 list of all that can be traced, for insertion in this Journal. Mr. Dunn under- 

 stands that the jug containing them was enclosed by three stones within a mound 

 of earth. 



f Numismatic Chron., 1888, p. 23. Soc. Antiq. Proc, Vol. 12, p. 56, Second 

 Series. This hoard was deposited circa, A.D. 375, 



