ROMANO-BRITISH LEICESTERSHIRE several skeletons were found there in 1846, and another urn containing burnt bones in a gravel pit in i886. 78 A skeleton was exposed in 1872 about 8 ft. or 9 ft. from the surface in Sanvy Gate, outside the north wall. At the head was a pot of Castor ware ornamented with a pattern, and the word VITA in white slip, and at the feet was another pot of ordinary Romano-British ware which appeared to have been subject to the action of fire on the inside. Both pots are now in the Leicester Museum. 77 In the town itself, among others, a cinerary urn covered with a piece of slate, containing burnt bones, was found in Horsefair Street, near the line of the south wall in i876. 78 In Butt Close Lane, near the east wall, a cinerary urn was discovered in 1854 5. 79 In Church Gate, also near the east wall, an urn containing human bones, covered with what appeared to be the iron boss of a shield, and two skeletons were found in 1866. The remains of Saxon burials have also appeared in this part. 80 Pottery. As is to be expected on the site of a Romano-British town, great quantities of pottery and other miscellaneous articles have been from time to time discovered over the whole area. It would serve no purpose to record here exactly all the finds which have been made, but it will be well to call attention to the important features of the discoveries of this nature. With regard to the Samian ware a considerable quantity has been found, to some extent indicating the wealth of the inhabitants. The Samian pottery has the usual embossed designs of hunting scenes, figures, &c. One fragment of a patera, with a hole in it probably for suspension, now in the Leicester Museum, has scratched upon it VERECUNDA LYDIA LUCIUS GLADIATOR. It was found in Bath Lane in 1854, and may be a love token from Lucius the gladiator to the blushing Lydia (plate VI). Another piece was found, which is also in the Leicester Museum, with VIIR or VER scratched on it. The potters' marks, however, are of considerable interest as they cover a wide area. The following names 81 are of the first century (La Graufesenque fabric) : ABITI. LOGIRNI. M. OF. RUFINI. ALBINI. M. ) OF. LUCCE(l.) OF. SABl(N)l. ALBINVS. F. j MACRINVS. SECUN. F. OF. APRI. OF. MAPOMI. (?) SECUNDI. M. APRO. F. MARCI. M. L. TER. SECu(NDUS-) AVITI. M. MARTI. M. OF. SEVERI.l CARILLI. OF. M(A)TUG(EN)I. SEVERI M. j OF. CEN (SORIS)J METHILLVS. OF. SEVER(l) PUD(ENTIS.) OF. CENS. J OF. MODESTI. SILVAN1. OF. CRESI (? CRES(T)I.) OF. MONTANI. SILVI. OF. DONTI. OFFIC. OF. PASSIENI. SILVINVS. GERM. ) PATRICI. MA. SILVI. PATRICI. GERM(A)NI.J OF. PONTI. VITALIS. M. JUCUNDI. OF. PRIM(I.) ' Rep. Com. Leie. Mtu. " Leic. Arch. Sx. iv, 185. 78 Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. " Ibid. 80 Post, ' Angl.-Sax. Remains ' ; Rep. Com. Leic. Mus. " The marks in this list have been identified by Mr. H. B. Walters, M.A., F.S.A., of the British Museum. I 201 26
