Notes on a Roman Building, and Interments. 



219 



were also a large quantity of the large flue-tiles, used to convey 

 heated air from the hypocaust ; they are 16in. long, 7in. wide, and 

 Gin. deep. In the north-east corner was found a fine fibula of 

 bronze, here figured, 1 a quern of millstone grit, pieces of a large 

 mortarium studded with coarse grit for bruising corn or flesh, and 

 a coin of Constans (small brass) bearing the London mint mark. 



The walls were decorated (in the north-east corner only) with 

 distemper painting of a dark red colour applied to stucco two to 

 three inches thick, with which the walls were faced. At the south 

 end of the large court were two smaller rooms, each (about) 14ft. 

 x 12ft. ; these seem to have in part escaped the destruction which 

 had befallen the rest, and under the wall on the east side were 

 many pieces of fine wall painting in perfect condition, the orna- 

 mentation consisting of that usually found in Roman buildings, 

 large panels edged with bands of black, red, and yellow, on a deep 

 red or orange ground. Some of the pieces are peculiar in having 

 a splashed pattern in imitation of granite, and on some fragments 

 traces of foliage are visible. The whole was practically as fresh in 

 colour as when first applied to the stucco. 



On the west side of the small rooms there was a foundation 

 running 14ft., forming one side of a small room ; unfortunately the 

 rest was so confused by constant digging that the size could not 



1 The bronze fibula here figured is of the bow and spring type with T-shaped 

 end. It is a fine example, measuring 2J-in. in length. The broad catch-plate has 

 a triangular opening cut in it — a type of make which is not common in Wiltshire. 

 General Pitt- Rivers figures two fibula? with this opening in the catch, which were 

 found in the Romano-British village of Rotherley. None were found in Woodcuts 

 village. General Pitt-Rivers suggests that probably the opening may be a 

 survival of the original turning back of the nose of the fibula until it became 

 fastened to the bow. See "Excavations in Cranbourne Chase," vol. II., p. 123. 



Mr. Passmore has lately (1899) obtained a second bronze fibula from the same 

 place. This is formed of one stout piece of bronze wire which is flattened out to 

 form the narrow fiat bow and catch. The only ornament is a single engraved line 

 down the centre of the bow with short lines carelessly stamped or engraved across 

 it. Its length is 2|in. This type of fibula, in which the bow. spring, ami pin. are 

 made all in one piece — the spring being formed of a, couple of ('oils on each side 

 of the end of the bow — is thought to follow the earlier type of fibula in use in 

 Britain previous to the Roman Conquest, but tl icy are found not uncommonly with 

 Roman remains. Several are figured in Gen. Pitt-Rivers' " Excavations*' \ E2d, 



