556 PROFESSOR J. C. EWART 



31 feet 9 inches in depth, and varied in diameter from 6 feet 6 inches at the top to 

 4 feet 10 inches at the bottom. The upper portion of the pit was occupied by a thick 

 layer of clay, then came the characteristic black deposit, the first eighteen feet of which 

 contained nine skulls and many bones of horses. At 1 8 feet 9 inches, a human skeleton 

 — that of a dwarf— occurred. Below this lay the skull of a dog, shells of oysters 

 and mussels, fragments of leather and portions of a decorated Samian bowl with 

 vertical sides, a small undecorated platter, and, at the very bottom, a heavy iron 

 hammer. 



A second pit, beyond the defences, contained three horse skulls. This (the Wheel 

 pit) had a depth of 30 feet, with a diameter of 8 feet at the top and 10 feet at the 

 bottom. At a depth of 18 feet 11 inches from the top of the black deposit, a fragment 

 of a decorated Samian bowl with a figure of Pan was found. Two feet under this bowl 

 were two horse skulls ; two feet deeper, two wooden wheels, a human skull, and deer 

 horns ; at 23 feet, a third horse skull and the skulls of five dogs ; and deeper still, an 

 oak bucket. 



The third pit in the field outside the fort had a depth of 23 feet, the diameter at 

 the top being 8 feet 6 inches, at the bottom, 10 feet. This (the Armour pit) contained, 

 about 8 feet from the surface, the greater part of a Samian bowl and pieces of amphorae ; 

 at 1 feet, a horse skull ; at 1 7 feet, a fine Andernach quern ; and at 1 8 feet, three 

 helmets, several inscribed pieces of armour, two bridle-bits, and a quantity of leather. 



Of the two pits inside the fort, one (the Praetorium pit) had a depth of 25 feet 

 6 inches, and a diameter varying from 25 feet 6 inches at the surface to 6 feet 6 inches 

 at the bottom. At 1 5 feet from the surface lay two horse skulls, and skulls of Bos 

 longifrons, sheep, and red deer. This pit also contained, at 8 feet, a human skeleton ; at 

 12 feet, an altar, underneath which lay a brass coin of Hadrian ; at 22 feet were two 

 human skulls (one incomplete), the bottom of a Samian dish, numerous brass armour- 

 scales, portions of an iron lorica, two knives, a linch-pin, a quantity of leather, the 

 remains of two oak buckets, and fragments of many amphorae. At the bottom a brass 

 coin was obtained belonging to the reign of either Vespasian or Titus. 



The pit to the north of the east gate (the Gate pit) contained the remains of several 

 horses. This pit was 17 feet deep, 8 feet 8 inches at the top, and 3 feet 10 inches at 

 the bottom. The horse bones, together with bones of various other animals, occurred 

 in the lower 10 feet. This pit also contained a small dish of thin, hard Samian ware 

 with vertical sides, two spear-heads, a hook for a lamp, and the necks of several 

 amphorae. 



Mr Curle thinks that at least some of the pits from which the skulls were obtained 

 were disused wells — wells which, having become foul, were utilised for the deposit of 

 rubbish and the carcases of dead animals. As to the age of the pits, it is believed 

 that the Horse and Armour pits may be as early as the end of the first century — this 

 is suggested by the portions of Samian bowls they contained — while the Wheel pit 

 probably belongs to the second century. The pits within the fort, it is believed, cannot 



