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 ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS

It will be admitted that Berkshire has been specially favoured in respect of Anglo-Saxon discoveries; but without in any way disparaging the excellent work done in the county by eminent archæologists, the question may be raised whether this exceptional position is not due more to the abundance of remains in the soil than to the accident of discovery and the advantages of skilfully conducted exploration.

Discoveries made some years ago at Long Wittenham, almost on the banks of the Thames, have proved in many respects the most important in the county, and the objects unearthed are available for reference at the British Museum. The Rev. J. C. Clutterbuck, who was vicar of the parish, was the first to draw attention to the archæological interest of the site, and furnished a brief report of a discovery there in 1848 to the Archæological Institute. The skeleton of a warrior was found lying with the head to the south about 3 feet below the surface, provided with sword, spear and shield, as well as a small vase at the left shoulder. Thirteen years later four skeletons were discovered at Dry Lease in the same parish, buried with the head towards the north-east in a trench about 3 feet deep. There was not much to indicate the date of burial, and in no instance had the body been laid at full length; but in the jaw-bone of one was noticed a green stain produced by a small coin of Constantine, and at the head of another was a small red vase of rather fine quality. These circumstances may point to contact with Roman civilization, and find a close parallel in certain graves uncovered a few months previously.

The cemetery excavated during 1859-60, under the direction of John Yonge Akerman, on behalf of the Society of Antiquaries, was situated to the south of the village, which itself lies on the right bank of the Thames or Isis, about midway between Abingdon and Wallingford. The interments did not extend beyond the limits of a plot of ground called the 'Free Acre', and formerly known as 'Town Furlong'. It was bounded on one side by the road to Wallingford, usually known as the Cross Lane. Abundant traces both of burnt and unburnt burials were here discovered, and exhaustively described by one who took a special