Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/238

 172 NOTICE UF KEMAlXrf OF THE ANGLO-SAXO^' PERIOD, NOTICE OF REMAINS OF THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD, DISCOVERED AT LITTLE WILBRAHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. COMMUNICATED BY MR. DECK, F.G.S. In the Hue of the direct Roman road forming part of the IckUng Street-way from Rovston to Caistor, and passing through the well-known Devil's Dyke on Kewmarket Heath, is a considerable elevation formed by the climch or lower chalk marl. This is in the parish of Little Wilbraham, about six miles from Cambridge, and is well known to the villagers by the Anglo-Roman name of " Streetway-hill." The whole line abounds with tumuli, as may be observed on the map of the Ordnance Survey, marking the places of sepulture of the honoured dead of the wai'like Iceni, the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons, as appears by the explorations made ; and at various periods the plough and the spade have turned up numerous interesting relics, showing the successive occupation of the sjDot by these different races. About four years since several remarkable fibulce, armillae, amulets, coins, and beads, some of which were exhibited at the Oxford Meeting of the Institute, were found, and suc- cessive operations have brought to light many other relics and numerous human remains. Early in the last year (1850), the summit of the hill was lowered, and, in effecting this, an escarpment of the chalk marl cut through exhibited the difference of soil that had upon former occasions suggested the probability of a deposit, and which, in many instances, proved to be correct. Upon carefully removing this soil, which was easily effected by the section made in sloping down the cutting, there was found a rectangular grave, 6 ft. 4 in. long, b}'' 2 ft. 8 in. wide, in Avhich was deposited, with much apparent care, a human skeleton of great stature. From the comparative measurement of the femur and tibia, the tenant of this tomb must have exceeded by some inches the height of six feet. The body was laid with the face downwards, and with the feet towards the east. Partly upon the occipital portion of the cranium, and the cervicular vertebra?, was placed a curious and apparently unique object, the form of which is shown by the accom- panying representation. This, I am disposed to regard as a headpiece or kind of crown, intended as a mark of honour