The Excavation of a Roman Well near Silbury Hill. 375 



rubbish from middens and clean sandy deposits from the stream, 

 as the latter contained twigs, water-worn stones, and pieces of 

 pottery with rounded edges. The relics are of various periods, 

 suggesting previous occupations. 



During the progress of the work I had several visitors, but the 

 work was kept as dark as possible,because of the great risk run to the 

 men when working in a small deep space by interested individuals, 

 who, leaning forward with craned necks, are not mindful of the 

 danger caused by a stone falling on to a man's head. I should 

 like to draw special attention to the finding of worked building 

 stones, large iron nails, and roofing tiles. Similar relics were found 

 in excavating a kitchen midden near Silbury in 1867 (Smith's 

 North Wilts, p. 162), and also in the Eoman well opened in 1882, 

 as before mentioned. The fact strengthens the theory that the 

 remains of a Koman building of the time of Valentinian I. exists 

 and remains to be unearthed, somewhere near Silbury Hill. 



The relics are in my private museum, and may be inspected by 

 anyone by previous arrangement. 



vol. xxxvi. — no. cxiii. 2 c 



