smooth stones would not only be useless, but dangerous. Another theory is that the Romans placed them there to help the drivers of chariots to "skid" the wheels of their vehicles, whilst some have urged that the central trough is of much more recent date, and was used in working the quarries at the top of the hill.[37] Roman coins and tiles have been found near Littleborough and at Underwood, near Rochdale; and at Tunshill in Butterworth, in the same parish, in 1793, was discovered the right arm of a silver statue of Victory, to which was attached an amulet with an inscription to the Sixth Legion.[38] From this rapid survey of the Roman roads, stations, and settlements, with the evidence of the vestiges which time has preserved for our inspection, it must at once be seen that through the length and breadth of Lancashire (except, perhaps, Lonsdale north of the Sands) the all-conquering Roman was found, and that for nearly four centuries he held possession. That he did much to educate and civilize the conquered tribes cannot be doubted, and the Lancashire people at the close of the Roman occupation must have been a very different race to those half-naked barbarians who fought so desperately to defend their soil against the invading legions. Although the ancient Briton was not quite an untutored savage, still, the influence of the higher cultured Romans had a very material effect upon his character and surroundings, and led to the acquirement of many arts and industries, which produced corresponding results of prosperity and comfort. The culture of the land was improved, the people were shown how to make roads and build houses of stone, mines were opened, iron was smelted, and ships were built. [Illustration] [Footnote 14: "Roman Lancashire," W. Thompson Watkin; Liverpool, 1883.] [Footnote 15: There are also traces of two other supposed Roman roads.] [Footnote 16: _Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc._, iii. 262.] [Footnote 17: Whitaker's "History of Manchester," 1771.] [Footnote 18: _Lanc. and Ches. Ant. Soc._, viii. 156.] [Footnote 19: Whitaker as an authority is good where he is describing things which he saw himself, but otherwise many of his theories border upon romance. (Vol. i., p. 49, 1773 edition.)] [Footnote 20: The late Mr. Thompson Watkin maintains that the N at end of the first line should be AV.] [Footnote 21: "Palatine Note-Book," iii. 67.] [Footnote 22: For full details of these see Watkin's "Roman Lancashire."] [Footnote 23: _Archæological Journal_, xxviii., p. 114, and xxx., p. 153.] [Footnote 24: Watkin's "Roman Lancashire," p. 55.] [Footnote 25: Through the influence of the Rev. J. Shortt, Vicar of Hoghton, whose description of the find is here followed.] [Footnote 26: Watkin's "Roman Lancashire," p. 133.] [Footnote 27: Mr. Townley. See "Vetusta Monumenta," iv. 5.] [Footnote 28: Abram's "History of Blackburn," p. 159.] [Footnote 29: _Lanc. and Ches. Hist. Soc._, xxv. 161.]