By Professor Church. 187 



Objects in Iron. 



There is some difficulty in ascertaining" the uses of the iron objects 

 which are discovered in Cirencester from time to time. Many are 

 mere fragments, and all are deeply corroded. In a porous gravelly 

 soil, at once moist and aerated, the decay of the metal is well-nigh 

 complete. A pair of annular quoits, and some singularly formed 

 hinge-like objects have been added to the iron series. They were 

 all found in the suburb of Watermoor. But the most interesting' 

 piece of wrought iron to which I wish to draw the attention of the 

 Society is a horse-shoe from Gloucester, the Roman Glevum, which 

 was disinterred in 1870, at a depth of 8 feet. This shoe was em- 

 bedded in wet clay and is in a perfect state of preservation. It has 

 been much worn at the toe, and is of very small dimensions and in- 

 significant weight. The calkins are small and rounded : the nail- 

 holes are long and deeply sunk, and the metal is of excellent quality. 

 Two other horse-shoes precisely similar had been found near the 

 same spot : these were described by Mr. Niblett and other archaeol- 

 ogists some years ago. With the horse-shoe were discovered Roman 

 coins, and a piece of Roman iron chain. 



Objects in Bronze. 



The rust of bronze, unlike that of iron, may be said to improve 

 the appearance of objects made out of this mixed metal. The details 

 of the workmanship are hardly obscured, while the quality of the 

 patina often affords an indication of age. The following list of some 

 of the recent additions to the ornaments and tools of bronze in the 

 Corinium Museum, shows that the locality has not yet been ex- 

 hausted. 



1. The Umbo of a shield, decorated with small bosses and engraved 



zigzags. Cricklade St., May 1870. 



2. Bronze toilet implement : part of it washed with tin. 



6. Bronze spoon : bowl washed with tin. The Leauses, Cirencester, 

 1872. 



4. An armilla with catch. 



5. Bodkin. New Road, Cirencester, February, 1871. 



6. A small bell, and a key, both found at Watermoor, 1869. 



