266 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1905 



Eildon. After this, the discovery of two Roman altars vras 



made, the first being found in 1783, the second in 1830, 



being dedicated by a centurion of the XXth Legion to 



the god Silvanua. In 1846 the laying of the railway 



threw more light on the subject than any discovery hitherto 



made. In a cutting to the South of the Eed Abbeystead 



field there were found a number of pits filled with black 



peaty matter, in which were portions of Samian ware, antlers 



of deer, and other bones. The most interesting thing of all 



found was the skeleton of a soldier standing erect in one of 



the pits with his spear beside him, part of the wooden shaft 



being still preserved. After this, so far as antiquaries were 



concerned, the site was deserted until the spring of 1904, 



■when Mr T. J. S. Roberts, Drygrange, while doing some 



draining in the Gutter Flat field, brought to light foundations 



of buildings, a line of curiously jointed water-pipes, and some 



Samian ware, etc. It accordingly became evident that the 



site was worth investigating, and on the matter being 



brought before the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland they 



decided to take it up. Operations were begun on the 



14th of February 1905. In the Gutter Flat field (two fields 



away) there were traced what seemed to be a large annexe 



of the camp containing about four acres, and a large 



building with an apse, which was probably the bath of 



the place. They had not had time yet to go further with 



the work of excavating there. In the Wellmeadow (the 



field between the Gutter Flat and the Red Abbeystead) they 



came upon a rampart, 45 feet wide, lying partly in stone 



paving. Inside was a paved road, 15 feet wide. On the 



outside of the rampart lay a ditch 21 feet wide and 12 feet 



deep, and two subsidiary ditches and ramparts. The 



buildings in the field formed six blocks, five being barrack-like 



buildings over 200 feet in length. These were separated from 



each other by roads about 29 feet wide, having footpaths 



on one side. The sixth building, 190 feet by 35 feet, was 



of better and heavier masonry, and showed one good buttress 



and well defined cross-walls. At one end were noted a 



number of cross-walls which might be broken down flues. 



Lying within the Red Abbeystead field there were then traced 



out the outlines of a large house, 130 feet by 124 feet, 



