597 
it is now but rarely that excavations for intended foundations 
are sunk at a depth sufficient for the uncovering of the 
pavements of dwelling rooms of Roman houses. 
But to return to the more immediate subject before us, the 
" Romulus and Remus Floor." 
The example of Eoman Pavement to which this paper 
refers, is not introduced as an artistic work ; it is simply a 
construction of much interest and curiosity. In default of 
fineness of execution, it seemed the more desirable that the 
peculiar conformation of the details of the floor should be 
accurately rendered ; in short, a fac-simile upon paper. (See 
plate xvi. accurately lithographed from a photograph exe- 
cuted by Mr. Hanson, of Leeds). 
The floor, as now remaining, is small, being only about 
four feet square, but in all probability it formed the central 
compartment only of a twelve or sixteen feet square room or 
apartment, in one of the average dwelling-houses of Isurium- 
Brigantum. It was discovered about twenty-five years ago, 
but, through peculiar circumstances which it would be tedious 
to relate, I did not include it among the illustrations of 
kindred remains in my "Reliquiae Isurianae." The site 
where it was discovered is adjacent to Aldborough Hall and 
the east gate, and lies to the southward of the main road 
through the village, which deviates little from the direct line 
of the Roman street between the eastern and western gates 
of the city. Shortly afterwards it was exhumed by a mason 
named Lonsdale, and removed to a garden attached to his 
cottage in Boroughbridge, where for many years it formed 
the floor of a small summerhouse. In 1863 it was purchased 
for the Museum of the Literary and Philosophical Society 
of Leeds, where it is still preserved. 
The outermost border of this fragment consists of a series 
of elongated lozenges or diamonds, each containing others of 
a diminishing volume, but all perfectly plain, and of alter- 
