On a Roman Bronze Patella from Palace, <&c. 



131 



"The pot," says Dr Smith, " was discovered in the month of 

 December 1849, by Robert Watson, while cutting drains in a 

 field called the Ward-law meadow, on the farm of Palace, in the 

 parish of Crailing, about a mile and a quarter from the bank of 

 the river Teviot, and nearly about the same distance to the east 

 of the river Jed, and line of the Eoman road, which passes 

 through the Cheviots, running north for St Boswells and the 

 village of Newstead. The pot was lying at a depth of 18 or 20 

 inches from the surface, and the drainer unfortunately struck his 

 pick through the side before he discovered it. The bottom of 

 the vessel, which is formed of a separate and thicker piece of 

 metal, was also probably loosened by the sti'oke, and before 

 long fell out." 



3. Bronte Patella day up in 1849 on the farm of Palace, Crailing, Roxburghshire. 



Dr Smith secured the vessel for the Museum of Antiquaries iu 

 Edinburgh. He describes it as follows : 



" This small pot or patella with handle, probably a vessel for cooking 

 purposes, is formed of fine yellowish bronze, and is beautifully finished 

 apparently on the lathe, marks of the tool still remaining on its inner 

 surface. It measures 7i inches diameter across the mouth, and about 4.V 

 in depth ; and tapers a little towards the bottom, which is flat, measuring 

 o\ inches across, and is ornamented on the outside with five concentric 

 circles or rings of thicker metal projecting from its surface. The handle 

 is flat, and 65 inches long ; it springs from the rim or mouth of the vessel, 

 of which it forms a part, and terminates in a circular-shaped extremity 

 nearly 3 inches across, which is perforated by a round hole in the centre. 

 The vessel is well shewn in the annexed drawing, the second figure re- 

 presenting the inverted bottom of the vessel. An ornamental stripe or 

 band is cut on the outside of the pot, just below the projecting lip or rim ; 



