Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/225

 DESCRIPTION OF AN ANCIENT TUMULAR CEMETERY. 125 form of barrow-burial. The Romans, again, of all classes but the lowest, had their separate tombs and mausolea, which, although congregated outside their cities, were as separate and distinct in themselves, as the abodes for the living were within the walls. Burning the body, too, was a common practice of the Romans of all classes, including even the poorer, which ceased only with the general adoption of Christianity. The lowest class in Rome had their general cemetery on the Esquiline ; such also have been discovered in this coun- try ; ^ and it appears not improbable that, excepting the higher class, the Britons themselves under the Roman sway used common cemeteries. This period of our history appears at least the most remote to which this cemetery can with any probability be ascribed. From the absence of ornaments and weapons, and of all implements and utensils connected with heathen superstitions, such as are constantly found in Roman tombs and burial- places, as well as in the barrows of the Pagan Saxons, and particularly from the direction in which the bodies were deposited from west to east, I think we may further infer that those who were here interred were a Christian people. In what manner the early British Christians deposited their dead, we have little or no evidence.^ It is probable that in part the old methods for some time obtained, and that sepa- rate Christian cemeteries were not until still later, if at all, introduced before the Saxon period. We know, however, that nearly a century and a half elapsed, after the second intro- duction of Christianity into this island under the Saxons, before burial-places were made around the churches within towns. This was done under the authority of Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 742 ; though, perhaps, in Northunil)ria, not until a somewhat later period. During this time, the more healthful practice of burying the dead at some distance from the habitations of the living prevailed ; no interments within the limits of to"VMis having before this been allowed by the Saxons, any more than they previously had been by the Romans. With these facts before us, I am then ' See fleseription of a Roman Kstrinnm, - An early British Christian cemetery at Lithngton, Archaeologia, vol. xx-i., has, it is thought, been discovered at p. 368. For descriptions of what also Pytchley, in NortliamptDushire, but its appear to have been Roman-British gene- character, as a British cemetery, appears ral cemeteries, see Archaeologia, vol. doubtiul. Arch.aeological .Journal, vol. iii., xviii., p. 421 ; vol. xxvi., pp. 368, 466 ; p. 105; and Journal of the liritish Archaeo- vol. xxix, p. 217 ; vol. xxxi., p. 312. logical Association, vol. ii., p. 202. VOL. VI. S