Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/242

 174 NOTICE OF REMAINS OF THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD, of several archaeologists, for whose ojiinions I entertain high respect, and who consider it to have been a vessel in the form of a bucket or sitida, similar to one which was found at Hexham, and is now deposited in the British Museum,^ or to that found at Northfleet, in 1847.^ ]My objections to this opinion are, that in this instance this object was deposited on a portion of the body where it would obviously be placed as a mark of honour. Asa situla, the position in which it was found was an inverted one, whereas, if intended as a crown, it was in its proper direction. If it had served as a vessel, such as has been supposed, it must have had a bottom ; but the most accurate search failed in discovering the slightest trace of such an adjunct, although the decayed portions of the upright staves were collected ; and, lastly, it is not probable that it would have been deposited empty, as those in the instances already cited were filled with relics, — that found at Hexham containing some thousands of Anglo-Saxon coins, and it may be presumed that, had this contained any object, some vestiges of its contents must have been discovered. It is probal^le that a tumulus once crowned the summit of this sepulchral deposit, although no such tradition is handed down ; but, as it is a highly cultivated part of the country, the successive operations of the husbandman have no doubt reduced it to its present level. The site is one worthy of those suitably selected for the tomb of a warrior — its elevation commanding a complete panoramic view of the whole surrounding country, forming an important military station either for attack or defence ; the traces of the out- works, with the warlike relics constantl}^ found, determine it to have been a position of considerable importance, as well as the scene of many successive military operations. These relics will be deposited in the British ]Iuscum — in the " British Room," recently completed — where they may supply an important link in the chain of historical vestiges about to be chronologically arranged in the new department, so desirably appropriated to the exclusive illustration of British antiquities. In April of the present year (1851), some labourers emplo^^ed in digging chalk on Street way Hill, within a few feet of the spot where the above-noticed discovery took place, came upon an extensive deposit of human remains, ' See Arcliaeologia, vol. xxv., p. 279. - Journal uf ilie AixIijudI. Assoc, vol. iii., p. 21?.').