446 



REVIEWS CRANIA BRITANNICA. 



ry and the Ethnologist, from its bearing an inscription, which 



reads : — 



MEI . . . . AL. THEODQRI 

 ANT . . OMENT. VIXIT. ANN 

 XXXIV. M. VI. EMI. THEO 

 DO : : A. MATER. E. C 



Imperfect as the memorial now reaches us, there is no doubt of its 

 general tenor. It is the dedication by the Roman Matron Theodora, 

 to the memory of her son, Theodorianus, who died at the age of thir- 

 ty-four, in that remote outpost of the empire, far from Nomentum, 

 his Latian or Sabine home. The skull of Theodorianus is a fine 

 example of the old Roman cranium. Dr. Thurnam remarks of it: — 

 " It is unusually capacious, and its dimensions are much above the 

 average in almost every direction." The deductions from this sin- 

 gle skull well illustrate how far such materials may contribute to the 

 recovery of minute and accurate knowledge in the hands of a cau- 

 tious and experienced observer. The fine aquiline profile is still dis- 

 cernible, slightly marred by a partial prognathic character in the jaws 

 and position of the teeth. The un eroded crowns of the latter suffice 

 to show the nature of the diet, and the civilized habits of the old 

 Roman, in contrast to those of the native Britons of his age. Still 

 further the condition of the sutures, and of the internal surface of 

 the skull, suggest the habits of the soldier, who had not passed 

 through the ordeal of war without sharing freely in its dangers. 



"There is conclusive evidence in this noble cranium of Theodori- 

 anus," says Mr. Davis, " — the like of which we by no means antici- 

 pate meeting with in the further course of our labours, — that he 

 was a fine Roman, of tall stature, over whose premature decease a 

 tender mother might naturally grieve with a deep sorrow. His 

 native country was near the imperial city itself, his family, without 

 doubt, of consequence, and his residence in Britain possibly connect- 

 ed with the command of the legion which garrisoned Eburacuin for 

 so many years." 



In dealing with the sepulchres of the old Briton or Saxon, the 

 Ethnologist cannot, as with the Roman, quote the inscription which 

 records the name and age, the birth place, and the race of the 

 owner. But other and scarcely less intelligent records supply its 

 place. In the Crania Britannica there are accordingly introduced, 

 along with the beautifully executed cranial illustrations, other plates 

 besides wood cuts, which show unmistakeably the very diverse cha- 

 racter of the sepulchral disclosures which establish the evidence of 



