108 Examination of the Roman Station at Bat/don. 



nor are there any fragments whatever of the crude ore. One fact, 

 and that a very interesting one, is clearly established, viz., that 

 common bituminous coal was used for working the iron, for it was 

 constantly found among the slag and cinders. Is not this one of 

 the earliest instances known in this country of the use of coal for 

 that purpose ? 1 Two or three massive pieces of iron have been 

 dug up, but they have the appearance of being pig iron, and may 

 have been brought there to be manufactured. One of these 

 pieces has a rough uneven surface, and is about fourteen inches 

 long, by three inches thick. It is now in the possession of Lord 

 Craven. 



It may be mentioned that the shells of the common snail (Helix 

 aspersa) were abundantly found, and as they do not usually live on 

 the open downs, we are inclined to think that they were brought there 

 for food. The inhabitants of this retired spot had however the 

 means of gratifying a more aldermanic taste, as was proved by finding 

 horns and bones of the red deer ; bones of ox and sheep were also 

 plentiful. It is probable that the people who occupied this place 

 were Romanized Britons, who in the troublous times which 

 succeeded the departure of the Romans, lived for a short period in 

 the remote valley of Botley. Had they occupied the ground for 

 any considerable length of time, there would have been greater 

 accumulations of the scoria and other rubbish which mark the sites 

 of human habitations. They were a poor people. Of this we have 

 proof in the facts that they possessed no fine Samian ware. Their 

 pottery, though of a Roman type, is of a rude make, and of coarse 

 material. They had no sudatoria, no tessalated pavements, nor 

 were there other indications of Roman luxury. Their dwellings 

 were apparently little better than those of the ancient Britons. 

 Pit coal was used by them, and stone tile derived from the sand- 

 stones of the Coal measures ; hence we may conclude that they 

 made use of the fine road which the Romans had constructed for 

 bringing their materials from the western counties. Though 

 retaining little of the refinement and luxury of their Roman 



1 Coal was found by the late Mr. Cunnington at the British (? Roman) village 

 on Knook-down. a Hoare's Ancient Wiltshire," vol. i., p. 85. 



