BURIED ROMAN CITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 4

BURIED ROMAN CITY.

FORTRESS OF CAERLEON. * MANY INTERESTING FINDS. Excavations cf the buried city of Caerleon, two miles east of Newport, on the River Usk, have revealed many relics of the time when it was a great Roman camp. The first systematic excavation is now being made by the Welsh National Museum for buried treasure. Although the earth has been removed to a depth of only 3ft, interesting discoveries have been made. Every foot of the earth removed reveals marks of great antiquarian interest. The concrete floors of one or two large buildings have been exposed, with beautiful slab pavements. Metal work, a Roman table, and a number of coins dating from 50 A. 1)., have been found, and the coins are being indexed under the supervision of Mr Nash Williams, M.A. The ground is strewn with well-made tiles which bear the stamp of the Second Legion. It is known that under the party wall of a dwelling house there is part of. a mosai' pavement and, as funds permit, the excavation will he carried out on a wider scale. The site of the Roman fortress is of unique importance in Britain. Some years ago local antiquarians uncovered the ruins of a strong tower, probablv the look-out post for a military guard. The four gateways have been disclosed, and at the southern extremity a buttressed wall of enornn ns thickness, with an entrance gateway, was discovered. Close of the gateway was j curious sculptured stone, evidently tlte work of a Roman soldier, representing a beehive and various agriculture! implements. The amphitheatre outside the fortress could accommodate 30,000 people.