Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/186

158 after this, having received information that an urn, containing bones, had been found, I proceeded to the spot, and obtained what information I could from an examination of the remainder of the tumulus, and the account given by the workmen of the portions they had removed. On digging into the mound on the east side, they arrived at a single layer of stones; on advancing a little further they found two layers; still further the stones were three, four, and five deep. The urn was found on the north-east side, where the stones were two in depth. It was reversed on a flat stone, and had no covering further than the superficial soil. Fragments of charcoal and earth, discoloured by fire, were found over a great part of the floor of the mound. From this description obtained from the workmen, (and which I believe to be substantially correct,) and from the appearance of the portion of the tumulus remaining at the time of my visit, it appears that the modus operandi in its construction was this: a circular area of a definite diameter was first selected, and floored with a layer of stones; on this the funeral pile was constructed. When the fire was extinguished, the ashes and bones were collected and deposited in the urn, and the latter reversed in such a position near the circumference of the area that there should be no danger of its being crushed by the superincumbent structure. This being arranged, the tumulus was formed by piling up stones, and finally completed by a covering of soil. The quantity of stones in this tumulus cannot have been less than fifty tons. Its circumference was rather more than sixty yards, and the height in the centre 6 feet.

"The urn is of earthenware, apparently slightly baked or sun-dried. The marks of the lathe are visible in the interior, but for lack of support while soft its form is far from symmetrical. Its dimensions are as follows: circumference at the rim, 2 feet 7 inches; largest circumference, 2 feet 11 inches; diameter of the foot, 5 inches; height, 1 foot 1 inch. At four inches below the rim a raised fillet surrounds the urn, and the portion between the rim and the fillet is rudely ornamented with parallel lines drawn diagonally in various directions, but never decussating. They appear as if formed by pressing a piece of twisted cord on the soft clay."

The annexed interesting examples of the fictile vases of the primeval period were exhibited by Edward Strutt, Esq., M.P. They were discovered on a rising ground in the parish of Kingston upon Soar, Nottinghamshire. Numerous fragments of urns were found dispersed over about an acre and a half of ground, formerly ploughed land; they were deposited about 12 to 18 inches under the surface of the soil, generally two or three urns together, surrounded by small boulder stones, and fragments of bone appeared amongst their contents. A bead of bone, some fragments of metal, and a few small portions of a coloured vitrified substance, apparently beads, which had been exposed to fire, were found with the urns. The vases are drawn to a scale of two inches to the foot. The first discovery of urns in this place occurred in making a plantation, during the year 1840; about three years after, further researches were made; twelve or thirteen were found tolerably perfect, but the number deposited must have been large, the