The discovery of a small tin canister in London during archaeological excavations of a Roman temple precinct, dated to the middle of the second century AD, is a landmark in the study of this class of artefact. Such discoveries from the Roman world are rare and this is the only one to be found so far with its lid and contents--a whitish medicinal or cosmetic cream--providing a unique opportunity for us to study the ancient formulation.

THE fittings from the military belt 1 -heavy semicircular buckles with inturned scrolls and rectangular mounts with relief or niello decoration-are common finds at Colchester, Hod Hill, Richborough and other early Roman sites in Britain. Identical pieces have been recovered in even greater numbers from the contemporary forts and fortresses along the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Although well known (Ritterling 1913,148-55; Webster 1969,122-3), t n e v n a v e v e t to be studied and published as a group, a process which would yield valuable information about their spatial distribution, the relative popularity of different decorative schemes and, possibly, about the centres of manufacture. The following is a synthesis and discussion of the British finds only ( fig. 1); it is based on a thorough search both of the published literature and of museum collections, particularly those in the south of England and the Midlands. PICTORIAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BELT

Bryn-y-Castell hillfort, Ffestiniog, (SH 728429): the defences survive as a drystone wall, generally 1-5 m wide and up to c. 1 m high, enclosing an area of c. 40 by 25 m. Excavation concentrated on the entrance, (which was a simple gap 1 m wide), a smelting hearth, and on an oval stone structure measuring 7 by 5 m just inside the entrance. Secure dating evidence is awaited, but glass bangles similar to those from Traprain Law may point to occupation in the Roman period. 4 (2) Tomen-y-Mur (SH 706386): further details of the leat-system to the northeast of the fort have been identified, 5 including a possible rectangular tank. 6 MONTGOMERYSHIRE [POWYS] Arddleen (SJ 260159): excavation in advance of road-work recovered Roman pottery and burnt organic material from the inner ditch of a double-ditched enclosure, one of many located by aerial photography in this area. 7 RADNORSHIRE [POWYS] Maes-Treylow farm, Discoed (SO 268653): a trial-trench across the eastern 'bank and ditch' of the supposed fort 8 located no Roman features. Re-examination of aerial photographs suggests that the earthwork belongs rather to a system of field banks, probably of mediaeval or later date. 9 CARMARTHENSHIRE [DYFED] Llandeilo (SN 633222): aerial survey located a possible fort lying on the valley floor. Cropmarks show two sides of a rectangular enclosure measuring at least 200 by 180 m with rounded corners. A linear mark across the centre, parallel with the longer side, is the only internal feature. 10 GLAMORGAN (1) Cold Knap, Barry (ST 0993 6648) [s. GLAMORGAN]: trial-excavation failed to locate further evidence for the supposed mortuary enclosure. 11 (2) Biglis (ST 1420 6940), Cadoxton [s. GLAMORGAN]: a farmstead was totally excavated, prior to construction of the Barry Docks Link Road, (a) The earliest, apparently unenclosed, settlement was represented by pits, two circular corn-driers and a round hut 7 m in diameter. The presence of 'Glastonbury' ware suggests that occupation began in the second century B.C. (b) In the second phase an area of c. 1400 m 2 was enclosed by a double palisade, against which, on the inside, small stock-pens were built, (c) In the third century the palisade was replaced by a clay-and-rubble bank. An entrance on the east side was originally c. 6 m wide, but was later reduced to c. 3-5 m. The southern terminal of the bank was revetted by a drystone wall 1-5 m wide. The metalled roadway extended into the interior to form a hardstanding, upon which stood two stone plinths probably supporting water-cisterns. Dwarf stone walls, 4 Excavation by the Snowdonia National Park Study Centre was directed by Mr P. Crew, who kindly sent information.

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