S88 Remains of the RoTnan Station at Cappuck. 



(large size), and many pieces of glass, also a small piece of 

 bronze, which has formed part of an ornament, and eight or ten 

 spear heads (one had the wood in the handle), boss for harness, 

 horse bit, large quantity of iron, etc. 



We found as many pieces of a Mortarium, which, when put 

 together, formed nearly the half of the whole vessel. It was 

 studded in the inside with small pebbles. We attach here a 

 description of two of these " Mortaria," from Chaffers^ Pottery. 



There is a description of one which is no doubt of native manufacture, 

 but scarce and seldom found entire. It is of a light brown or ash 

 coloured clay, with crinkled ornament in relief round the edges. His fig. 

 15, p. 30, shows the usual form of this singular kind of pottery. The 

 pattern is made with a tool. 



Some bits of this sort were got at Cappuck. 



At page 34 he says : — " Among the culinary utensils used by the 

 Bomans, was a broad shallow vessel termed a Mortarium. It had on the 

 bottom of the interior sharp angular pebbles embedded in the ware, for 

 the purpose of triturating vegetable substances or bruising them with 

 liquids —being provided with a spout to pour ofE the mixture, when 

 rubbed to the required consistency. It had a broad brim which turned 

 over outwards about half-way, apparently for the purpose of concentrating 

 the heat round the vessel when placed upon the fire. On this rim is 

 generally found the name of the potter. These Mortaria are exceedingly 

 numerous in England. They vary in size from 7 inches to nearly 2 feet 

 in diameter, and are about 5 inches deep. Most of them give evidence of 

 great wear, having generally a hole rubbed through the bottom. This is 

 figured at page 34 of Chaffers' Book. 



We found embedded near the outhouse building large tiles, 

 which, although much broken, when put together we were able 

 to measure, and found them to be 14 inches by 14 and 2 inches 

 thick. Besides many other articles, we have got a large quantity 

 of fragments of domestic Roman Pottery, similar to that found 

 at Cilurnum, showing a great variety of form, colour, and 

 material. The most chaste and beautiful of these fragments are 

 portions of red Samian ware, both embossed and plain. 



We found nearly half of a vessel similar to one, a portion of 

 which is seen in the Edinburgh Industrial Museum. It is very 

 richly embossed. Dr Bruce, in his work already quoted, says : 

 " this kind of pottery has never been reproduced since the 

 Roman days." 



He gives a beautiful specimen, on page 235, of his "Wallet 

 Book." All the fragments found have been given to the 



