ROMAN BROUGH : = ANAVIO. 189 



its neighbour, but seems likely to prove entirely irregular; the 

 cellar itself, though not unique, has about it some singular 

 features. As will be seen also in later sections, there is already 

 a brief indication of differences in style of masonry, pointing to 

 different epochs of construction. This is noticeable also in the 

 western corner tower, where apparently some older foundations 

 are traceable. The suspicion is confirmed by the fact that the 

 portion of an inscribed tablet, itself of some historical interest, 

 was found built into the masonry about the mouth of this cellar. 

 It is quite possible that future excavations may yield, by com- 

 parison, some evidence as to the dates of military activity not 

 merely in the locality but throughout the whole of Roman 

 northern Britain. Even the dates of such stone-built forts are 

 still matters open to question. 



III.—SOME SPECIAL FEATURES. 



The Underground Chamber. 



The features of special interest which the excavations have 

 so far disclosed are : (a) the foundations of the western tower, 

 which seem to be the work of different periods ; (b) the peculiar 

 arrangement of the prsetorium, and its large size ; (c) the 

 preservation of some of the smaller parts of the gateway in 

 the south-west side, where is the door stop, against which 

 rested the two gates when closed ; and, especially (d) the under- 

 ground chamber, cellar, or well. 



Of these only the last named has yet been completely 

 excavated. It is here illustrated by two plates, namely : IV., 

 a photographic view of interior detail, and V., a photographic 

 view, from the south-west, looking down upon the mouth of 

 the pit with its flight of stone steps, and figure 6, which shows 

 the plan of this structure and a section along the inner face 

 of its stairway. 



There are two things clear from a consideration of the mere 

 stonework. This chamber, or pit, as it might be called, is not 

 contemporary with the south-west wall of the prsetorium into 

 which it fits : the masonry is of the more characteristic and solid 



