ROMAN RICHES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 May 1925, Page 10

ROMAN RICHES.

FOUND AT BICE-BOROUGH. OVER 8000 COINS IN CASTLE RUINS. Under the expert supervision of Mr. Walter Klein, F.S.A., who is now acting on instructions from the Office ol Works, some very interesting and highly important discoveries of Roman coins have been made during the excavations of tiie ruins of Richborough Castle, near Sandwich, the ancient Riutupiae. From a historical and archaeological point of view, these coins are of exceptional importance. Within the last few weeks some 8500 have been found during the removal of the top soil to a depth of three feet-. Handcuffs, with human bones, many daggers, spearheads, and iron ealthrops, an ingenious but brutal device for impeding advancing cavalry, similar to those used by the Germans during the war, have also been unearthed. An interesting point about the ruins is the work of the fourth century, in the period following the reign of Constantine the Great.

A large proportion of the coins are those of the son of the Great Emperor, almost the last to hold sway over the whole of the western domain of the Caesars. But hundreds of coins of Arcadia's, who, after the division of the empire, ruled the Byzantine realm, have been collected.

A coin found only a few weeks ago is the second gold coin of-Arcadins unearthed at Richborough, and both look as well preserved- as if just minted. Coins from the Roman mints at London and Colchester, and others from the mints at Lyons, Amiens and Milan have been dug out. A mediaeval chapel, revealed some few months ago, now seems to he- a much more important structure than was previously conjectured. It is suggested that some niicliaeval hermit took up his abode in the ruins and that after his death a chapel was erected to his memory.

Graves have been disclosed outside this chapel, and one within its walls may possibly have been that of a hermit who used the chapel as his oratory. The question of water supply for the large garrison quartered within the castrum has hitherto been a matter of some speculation, hut the discovery of a large well with water still percolating at a depth of 40 feet has cleared up this matter. A curious feature of this well is aframework of large oak timbers, consisting of baulks 13in. bv 13in., enclosing a- space about 14ft. Gin. square. The timbers are black, but it is amazing to find any woodwork remaining from so early a period as that of the Roman occupation. ‘ . Richborough Castle is unique as a Roman fortress, with massive walls as complete as any in this country.