190 



Recent Roman Finds at Cirencester. 



weeks are by no means scarce ; we have examples of Gordianus, 

 VolusianuSj Tacitus, and Florianus. A coin of Antoninus, with 

 Britannia as reverse, was found in Cirencester last year; to this, as 

 well as to all the recent discoveries of interesting or rare coins, I 

 shall call due attention in my forthcoming catalogue. 



Pottery. 



Besides several funeral urns of imperfectly-burnt clay, probably of 

 local manufacture, discovered in making the New Road, I have to 

 record the discovery, outside the city wall, of what must have been 

 one of the burial places about the Querns. When the New Cattle 

 Market was being levelled, in 1867, the workmen constantly came 

 across the evidence of numerous interments. Two stone coffins 

 for children, and several sepulchral urns were secured in a nearly 

 perfect condition. 



Additions have been made to the series of marked pieces of red 

 glazed (Samian) ware, and to the fragments of amphorae bearing 

 makers' names : all these have been printed and published. A 

 fragmentary red bowl, with two Roman rivets, is a good illustration 

 of the care taken of these vessels. 



Wall Paintings. 



During many recent excavations for building purposes in Ciren- 

 cester the interior decorations of walls have been found in great 

 quantities — in cart-loads, I may say. The colours are stiM adherent 

 to the plaster and concrete, but the designs are not greatly varied or 

 of particular merit. A marone ground with white lines and black 

 border commonly occurs : two excellent specimens of yellow leafage 

 ornament upon a marone ground have been fortunately secured for 

 the Museum. One of these was found in Cricklade Street, the other 

 in the Leauses. An imitation granite pattern is common. But the 

 most interesting piece of coloured plaster work bears upon it some- 

 thing more than an ordinary design, and I beg that this fragment 

 may be carefully inspected in to-morrow's excursion. I am more 

 particularly anxious that persons familiar with similar relics found in 

 Pompeii and Rome should examine this specimen, since its genuine- 



