earth will thus have been accumulated than could be reached by the
plough; and a bed like the 251 2-inch mass, in Fig. 14, will have been
formed beneath the superficial mould, which latter will have been brought
to the surface within more recent times, and have been well sifted by the
worms.
_Wroxeter_, _Shropshire_. The old Roman city of Uriconium was founded in
the early part of the second century, if not before this date; and it was
destroyed, according to Mr. Wright, probably between the middle of the
fourth and fifth century. The inhabitants were massacred, and skeletons
of women were found in the hypocausts. Before the year 1859, the sole
remnant of the city above ground, was a portion of a massive wall about
20 ft. in height. The surrounding land undulates slightly, and has long
been under cultivation. It had been noticed that the corn-crops ripened
prematurely in certain narrow lines, and that the snow remained unmelted
in certain places longer than in others. These appearances led, as I was
informed, to extensive excavations being undertaken. The foundations of
many large buildings and several streets have thus been exposed to view.
The space enclosed within the old walls is an irregular oval, about 13 4
mile in length. Many of the stones or bricks used in the buildings must
have been carried away; but the hypocausts, baths, and other underground
buildings were found tolerably perfect, being filled with stones, broken
tiles, rubbish and soil. The old floors of various rooms were covered
with rubble. As I was anxious to know how thick the mantle of mould and
rubbish was, which had so long concealed these ruins, I applied to Dr. H.
Johnson, who had superintended the excavations; and he, with the greatest
kindness, twice visited the place to examine it in reference to my
questions, and had many trenches dug in four fields which had hitherto
been undisturbed. The results of his observations are given in the
following Table. He also sent me specimens of the mould, and answered,
as far as he could, all my questions.
MEASUREMENTS BY DR. H. JOHNSON OF THE THICKNESS OF THE VEGETABLE MOULD
OVER THE ROMAN RUINS AT WROXETER.
Trenches dug in a field called Old Works.
95