If the Roman Empire brought to certain provinces, as it unquestionably did to Africa, the happiest period in their history till almost the present day, that only makes their remains the more noteworthy and instructive.

Here the new art of excavation has already achieved many and varied successes.

In the western Empire one town, Silchester in Britain, has been wholly uncovered within the circuit of its walls.

Others, like Caerwent in Britain or Timgad and Carthage in Africa, have been methodically examined, though the inquiries have not yet touched or perhaps can never touch their whole areas.

In others again, some of which lie in the east, occasional search or even chance discoveries have shed welcome light.