312 Archceologia. 



tion to Dr. Robson, of Warrington ; and Dr. Kendrick, who lias 

 watched the discoveries at Wilderspool, promises a full account of 

 them for the next volume of Transactions of the " Historic 

 Society." 



The latter part of Mr. Ecroyd Smith's pamphlet is occupied by 

 his report of the archaeological produce of the Cheshire coast 

 during the year 18G6, in continuation of a former report, of which 

 we have given an account before (Intellectual Observer for May, 

 1867). Of the objects thus found, Mr. Smith has given a classed 

 list, descriptive when necessary, with engravings of a few of the 

 more interesting objects found. Under the head of Primeval, he 

 enumerates twenty-one rudely-fashioned implements of flint and 

 limestone, an arrow-head of bone, and a curious skewer, or pin, 

 made of whalebone. To the Roman period belong four Roman 

 coins (the only three which are legible belonging to the Emperors 

 Nero, Antoninus Pius, and Probus) ; a key ; a fibula of the bow 

 shape ; an acus, or pin, of a brooch ; two dress pins, or (as they 

 are usually called, perhaps in this case less correctly) hair-pins ; 

 and a piece of haematite, which Mr. Smith supposes to have been 

 used as an amulet. The Saxon period is only represented in this 

 list by two glass beads, of a pale straw colour. The objects here 

 classed under the head of Early English, and which would perhaps 

 be better described as Mediaeval, are so numerous and so varied 

 in their material and character that we cannot attempt to enume- 

 rate them. A few relics of less interest, and dating from the reign 

 of Elizabeth to the eighteenth century, but belonging principally 

 to the seventeenth, are classed under the head of Later English. 

 The total number of objects of archaeological interest, irrespective 

 of animal remains, found in or near the sea-beach of Cheshire 

 during the year 18G6, amounts to 238. 



The new excavations at Wroxeter (Uriconium), though inter- 

 rupted for a while by the necessity of employing the men in the 

 labours of harvest, have produced some very interesting results, of 

 which we intend to give a more full account on an early occasion. 

 The new room opened, adjoining to what was named the enamel- 

 ler's shop, and, like it, facing the Roman forum, proves to be 

 another shop, of exactly similar dimensions and character. It is 

 singular that two large workshops, evidently for the manufacture 

 of small ornaments in metal, should stand side by side in such a 

 position ; and we may almost suspect that Uriconium was a great 

 manufacturing town — a Birmingham of Roman Britain. Future 

 researches will, no doubt, throw more light on this question. 

 Among the numerous relics recently discovered, was a pretty 

 intaglio, engraved in a bright red cornelian, and representing two 

 parrots, seated on what appear to be two vessels, with a large vase 

 between them, into which what bears resemblance to a stream of 

 liquid flows from their mouths. We regret to say that, just as this 

 object was carried to the Museum, some visitors who happened to 

 be there were allowed to take it in their hands to examine, that it 

 quickly disappeared, and that nobody has heard of it since. Fortu- 

 nately, impressions had been taken in wax ; but it cannot but be 



