Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/54



is some time since my attention was drawn to a barrow or tumulus at Caenby, the Chenebi of Domesday, and during the autumn of the past year I determined to ascertain whether it contained any Early British or Saxon remains. Having obtained, therefore, the willing consent of J. Golden, Esq., close to whose residence the barrow is situated, I fixed on September 25 for the commencement of operations. The position of the tumulus is about a quarter of a mile due east from the Hull and Lincoln road, the old Ermin Street, and about ten miles North of Lincoln. It stands on elevated ground, is very regular in shape, and has been planted with Scotch fir, of no very great age. The first proceeding was to measure the barrow, which appeared to be about 340 feet in circumference, and to rise about 8 feet from the level ground, in the centre. I understand that a saw-pit was made on the east side, about twelve years since, but Mr. Golden is not aware that it has otherwise been disturbed. I desired the workmen to cut a trench from S.W. to N.E., that direction being the most clear from trees; the trench formed was about a yard in width at the outer edge of the barrow, gradually increasing to about 8 feet, and latterly to 12 feet in the centre. We thus had convenient space for operation, and were less likely to miss anything of interest. After working for some time, our curiosity was stimulated by meeting with some appearance of burnt soil and stones, but our ardour was quickly damped by finding small pieces of coal amongst the debris. We now traced distinctly the wall of a lime-kiln, just at the eastern edge, and in the direction of our trench; luckily we were on the outside of it. Our first day's work was not very encouraging.

October 9.—Discouraged, but not in despair, we recommenced operations this morning. We continued the excavation in the same direction as before, working down to the undisturbed stratum of rock. We soon passed the wall of the lime-kiln, which did not extend nearly to the centre of the barrow. We now found that the rock had been taken out