Anyone who lives in Monmouthshire, a county rich in its old castles,
churches, camps, and cromlechs, cannot fail to be some sort of an
archaeologist, and it is this mild type I represent. I have always had
a great fancy for history, and anyone who studies the archaeology of
Monmouthshire must be well grounded in the history of England. The
county has held a prominent place in history from the earliest period
down to the present day, commencing with the Silures, and passing on
to the Romans, Saxons, and Normans. Some locality or other in the
county was connected with each of those periods.
One little failing about archaeology which has always been a sore point
with me is that it is apt to destroy some of those little illusions
which we like to keep up. I hope when we go to Caerwent, during the
next day or two, my illusion concerning King Arthur will not be
dispelled, for I love to think of King Arthur and his Round Table
having been at that place. Alexander wept because there were no new
worlds to conquer, but I hope archaeologists will not weep because
there are no new ruins to be discovered. An old stone has been picked
up on the moors at Caldicot, and scientific men know that the stone
proves the Marches to have been reclaimed from the sea by the Romans.
The question of the origin of Roman encampments is one about which
there is a great deal of doubt, and I hope to hear some new story when
we inspect the ancient part in Tredegar Park.
_Fourth Annual Meeting, Cambrian Archaeological Association,
August 24th, 1885._