/aQc,q,e_ um-t’. V-J1 K

(298)

'J‘.‘II]'3 SAXON O.13}M'E'1‘ERY AT BI1?‘.i_’t0N S.
nr '13. e. (}0])iF1.tEY--=E‘AUSSET’J.‘, 1n:e., .F.E3.A.

Duninine» the year 1866 some werlmien. ef: the lV,‘[arq_11.is
el" «Uon.yn.gl.1.z1r,n, while cli.ggi1:’1g for a new ]’_ftl?.tl'l.i1£l,i3l,()7f). in
that eLitly".ing pa1‘t of llifrene :E?aJr,E{ l:::1:.ieW‘.n. as
lE“'atri.el«:eheurne llill, clisturbed. a few Eéaxen gyavcssj
gfrem. ‘Whieh t.hey seeur(:(l s()rne s-1na.lrl. Jieliee of no
grmt imperta.nee. Ilia Iljerclsliip with great l:<.ine,l-.
.m3:‘-:2: eemniunieatetl the discovery to our Society, arid.
afl1a’>r‘warLle presented us ‘With the relies, which are
d_ee~er;il')e(l and partly illustrated in our Sixth W/olLin1e.*
lt hei.ngg; elear that the Site of another of our Mae‘
lft(\3l.l) Saxxen ee.m(:te1_‘.i.es had tliue been l)re'uglit to
l:i;;hl;, a request was su'bsequ.ont_l.y made to Le:r<:l
(f)es'2.y1i.gl1aei1). for leave to pi:'eSee'ute Lturtlier researches.
at the same spot, which was again. most lil)erall:y
ga:'a1’i‘te<l.; and the antmne. el’ the year l)ei.ng the tirne
p:a.'(:.l”e1.'re<:l. tor e'x_iel1 an mulertaking by the tenant el’
tlw lzmtl,  best suitable to the pa,'a.’t1n*e, I eo:rn1ne:need_
up:>ra'%;i.ene with the assistance of two l_ab()u.re1re on
04:1.-el..»-L-r 2-}, '186’?.

The .°«l‘tO oi’ the eemetery lies about hall’ way up
‘the gentle slope of the hill, which at this ‘point l:"o:rn1s
the eo'1:itl1~eas’ter*r1 side of the Valley ef the le:»:.ser
E3‘l;m11_"; a.n!l is about a quarter of a mile VlJ.i.gl1er up

* .l’. 32!).

fl

THEISAXON CEMETERY AT BJLFRONS. 299

the stream than where Patrielisliourne Oliureh stands
in the Valley. It is noticeable that this Vale of the
lesser Stour must have been peopled by lle'Lirislii.ng
Settlements in those early days; when the Saxons or
Jutee of Kent were  yet Pagans, for to these days
and to this state of religion We are eonstrainerl to
refer such cemeteries as this. As high up the valley
ae Kingston, on a similar sloping hill at its side,-
.Brya11 1<‘au_ssett found a similar cemetery ; another
exists along just .<.;ueh a elope in Benrne Park, not
more than half a mile above these graves at l?atriel<:.s-
hourne, and has, from time to time, been _‘;_)artl.y'
explorerl by Lord Lon(lesherougl1, Mr. Bell, and.
others; a few sneh graVe.~3 have also been lately ili'eunLl
on tliie same l’atriel:s'beurne llill., near Lord CO]'l.y]J.§.§_‘e
han1’s lie-eper’s lodge, and nearly opposite l"atr.iel(e«
hourne ()‘11urel1 ; and a few more some Way lower down
the Valley and on its opposite side, in a wood adjoin»
ing the park of Howletts. Rich as East Kent 
;feun<l to be in such relies, it may be doubted whether
so many of these burial places have been anywhere
diseovered lying together, as in this Valley of the
lesser Steer.

’_l‘he groiintl on which We now began operations
was perlee tly srnooth, and gave no outward indication.
of what lay beneath. For several years it had been

laid in turl’,_ but I eonlcl myself remeinber it 

plougliecl land, and in that condition it had reniained
leng_§ enough at least for every Vestige of a tuinulus
to have been destroyed. The graves however were
easy to be discovered "by the 1186 of an iron Spear.‘ of
the sliape devisetl and adopted by Bryan Fauseett;
fer the hill YVZLS fortunately of chalk, with only a
very slight layer of top soil, and any disturbance


3(1)!) TIIE SAXON CEME'1‘E'R{5( AT i:i;'E1io1»:s.

in the close and l.ia1'Ll stratunti below ‘Was at oiiee
zjletecvtahle by it tlwuazt. We eoulcl idiot l1Ol.}L) no tie:ii:1.;§, as
in 0111' }_>i'<)g1'ess we grew to it pretty well (le.1'h:1.e(l. lCl,6i,L
of the oxteiit. aiicl outline of the C4.)l]il,()i3Cl‘:y3 tliiit it
eeeta.pied.. LL epo't on the hill side sligl:_1;.il.y lc>w.lle.1f tlizm.
the rest of the slope, 2.Lp1)«‘,L]°O}].JDliy n.attum'.ll_y‘ so, but
'j_)(‘.l,‘.ll_?t1)S{1r.l(lCfl. by aytifieiail mezuis. ’l‘here seeiiied to
be ren12ii.ns of 3, sligl1.t ditch ‘dlfl.(.l bank .“s[l.lT()'U.lJCl.'l.T1g‘ it,
hurt seaircely (llStl_Zl'lgUlSl.l£Ll)lG ztfteif many yeziiie 0sl:'
]T>_l.()L1g‘l1.; this would ()11(‘».lOSO pe1"l‘1ztps em. ztere or so
of lzmcl. ‘We i"ou'u_(l by il7ai' the .3;i'eztt0i;' mujxsfber of the
f,;'i':wee lyisng in it d.i1'eotion. nearly‘ N. Etlilil S., but with.
it filiggglit i:nel.i:mx.ti.oi:1 to the fill}. a..11d NJW, the l'oot to
the N. All cases of 3, cliITei"e11t di.re«:t.i,oi1 are :is1sta;n.ee<l
in my iiarmtive below‘. The conclusion. seemed
W:z.i.'1':.m.table tlmt this g(>11eml. ag17eeme:t11; of tll1‘(3(5l7l<)1l.
h a.<..l no o(m:i:iect‘ion_ with the sun, 01:‘, as We should n<)'\\»"
B}‘,I«}’, the points of the compass, but wze oe<:a,eio1i1.e«l. by
thz‘: situation. of the gr0ii1n.(l, zmcl lziy le1igt;'l.n_wz1=ys en.
the slope oi? the hill, pa,1'a.llel With. the Valley hel0‘w‘.
’l'.‘hi,s  11()i}l(}e2Ll)l_e in iitizmy ()'tl1()1‘ sueli eemeto1'i s, aml
is }')F()lj)2,Ll.)ly £Lttl'll)L’lt£Lh.l() merely to the sawing of lzthoui‘
tilms g‘_i1;l1'1.UCl in. (liggi.1'i g to zt level bottom. on. :1, hillm
em: 2, It will be observed. below t.h_zLt 5-,4 few of the
g.1i:wCs lay E. flilfltl WV}, :1 direction Very 'ine()1'iVenien.tly
e<):1t:czu;'y to the 1?e11'i:J.imle:r ; and it OOC'L11."’.l”Cd. to me 'tha,t
'tԤ:1.ese 11:3 my possibly have been grzwee of the iirs1;
(.ll»i:istim'is, who died be:Ee1'e any se_‘pa.m.te bircizil yilaee
!’r;:' l')’;€“ij‘i'll')(3i‘S of their religioii had. l.'_)(:)0,H. estztblislieil in
th:-;.t iifi_Eéi3l‘l4L}l3. It is iiotioea.ble too that must of these com
t:i.i;~«_ no i*eli.esa, zmtl :1l.tl1oL1_gli this cxireuinstimee, as we}_l
its theii;* vziryiiig (lireetion, imuy be simplty the 1‘0¢~I1,ll,i1
of U‘cl'l“‘0l(3SE§fl0SS 01' lizmste, it 'J.Y],‘¢1-fy not um:"eason.a,hly he
a,tt1:i_huted to the zibseiirse of that 1'"a,g:,m'1. s'upe1‘sti'ti.o:11,

THE SAXON OEME'.l‘ERY Afj.‘ BIFILONS. 30].

wh.ieh l)l11‘l(3(l'W.ltll the body What it iniglit be supposed
to ireqliire 01' to wish for in. its i:'utu1'e state. I

Much lcintl assistzuiee was given me during parts
of the exeavzition by the Rev. H. M. Vil.li.ers, Rector
of .A.¢.li.Sl'1£lH]., and by Mr. Breiit, of Cante1'bui'y; zmcl
‘under their superiiitemlenee imtny of the grzwes were
opened. ‘JV e eXzu:t1ine(l about .‘;Ll1U11(l1‘()Cl in all. During
_p:,trt of the tiisiie Lord. C0i1yngl’i.iu:i1’s gZU11()li(36_pO1.' was
opening Otl.lO.1‘S on behalf of his Lorclsliip himself;
(loi:ng; his work with great eare mid atteiitiou, zmcl
g<>tti11g2; together :1 very pretty collection new at
:Blilil.°Oli1S. Beiiig however an unecluezited mam, he
‘wzie unaible to _p1'eserVe notes of th.e eonteiits of 02).-Gll
grave, ancl of the positions and eireumstanees in
which the relics were 'f0'U.11(l; and this diminishes the
'V:1l'L1G aml l)..lSl10l’lC£Ll usefulness of Lord GO1'1y]lg’.l,l€L1’I1’E‘s
eolleetio.x 1, as of so mzmy others of older clate.

A_it.uong the _peeLiliarities eomieeted with this

cemetery it was observztble that the brooches were
a.l1:n.ost inVa1“izLbly cliseovered in pairs, the two (3X€tCtly'
al.il<'o, whether ei1“e'u_l.ar or of the l1zmime1'sh.‘;Lpe. I
.l.1_:.we VOJL‘ifLU.'C(l to call by this latter iiztme that
el1.zwaete:r of brooch which other writers have eallecl
either ‘ei'LLeifoi‘m’ or ‘ tau-shape(l’; for to the 11€\{I_l’.1_£.‘
of ei‘ueil'orm theife seems no claim in their shape,
zmd it l]:i.tS been used by those who would fztin see
OVl(§l.E§l'),C(~) of Ol11'istim:1ity in their Ll6Sl.g‘]I1; While to
ll'l2lJ3"l,0 tljieini ta.u-sliaped gives it distinctly Wrong im-
];)i~es:si.o_n: oil? the position in which they were w<)r‘n,
(l(3.‘2§()1".lil’)l.flfg' them in. fact "upside clown. The shape is
the most s.i.n:1pl.c mid .uat'u1'ail "possible, and has clearly
no ('§OlL’{lCUi7l,OI1 with any seiiti.men.t, nor is sinte1:1d.ed to
1ei>1"trsc>11‘i; zmy other objeet Wl1Z1.l1OV(i1L“. It is simply EL
sliiehl. to the ]j>.i_u, 'W.i.€,i()‘.i‘lil.I1g am.d. m).i1‘.xr(.t)wit11g w.ith the


30% THE SAXON CEMETERY AT BI]5‘I{.ONSq

s11z1.1)e of the pin and its mljunets. The p0si.t1'.on,
therefore, with the point turned upwards, in which I
ham: always found it-, Without, so far as I 1‘e:m<>mbe1.', at
si.11;.;".le eXeept.i0.u, is ea.si1y1,m.de1'ste0d, ere; 1“ende.L'i11g the
}1.>eiAn:;.t Visible While being 1'esten.ed.. ]_]ja.1:1113;1e.1:—shaped
screzms the most ce1.1ve1:1ie11t Si].1’].i10,—~P]j'OVid.()d aC.l.w:;,Lys
that no one will connect it with the w'01.'shi.p of ’,§.‘].1o1~
the :E[€L«]’I'l1fK].E)1'(-).L'.

Another peeu11'.z1rit‘y was the freq_ueney of the
e1iy‘etz1..l ball a.1;1d pe1'J:”01'a;ted spoon found in j11Xta.-
pesit1'(m,, and ir1m.1?ieb,l.y between the H.}_i{.3’]'J, bones of :1,
fe.m:::,1<:s ek(>1ete1L Ne fewer thin; five such eases
oeemirekjl in the graves opened by I11yse1f, and at least
’t'w0 more in those Worked by the g:1.m.ekeo,:pe1',~———z\,
1:n.e:4t 1/L11'L1s1:1al|.y].:Lrge 1)r0'_p01'tien. It seems elear that
they point 120 some pectllier rite, a.L1d were more t1.:.:.u'.1
me; _pe1'so3m]. ()rn.zLn1en.t.-‘A, however i.ndi.s}_)0:sed one nmy
fee} to gixre any ad.11esi0n. to the .fzmtastie theeriers of
then.‘ supposed 111ag.iea1 properties in w11:ieh writers
h::we :?.ndu1g,‘ed. Some iu_teresti.11g and, I be1.i.e've, new
ei._1'<: u.mst:u1ees eeuneeted wi.tl.1 this type of relic will
be i’eu..nd under some of the graves, but I confess to
I1a.v&':'\.§; been unable te ‘Weave them. .i1:.1.to zL1_1y the0.1;*'y of
guy mvn.

1‘. new proceed. with my 1:1zu,'mtiVe of the g1°a:ves
:7M]d their etmtents, as opened in. order.

(€x:.,x,v13 1. Skeleton about 5 feet AL "inches in height. Grave

‘  ?Lx_ehc.>.3 in depth. Ntzzw the he11.ds  .l<11i;('e ; meal? the
Waist 21 bmmae buckle, of wlnjeh the tongue had
been iron, miuii, it $111311 brollze 3Z‘ur.'a’ 01‘ bose, of oval
shape, with raised centre eon't2m'.1')i1:1g EL Hat piece

 

of red glass set in its front 5 it was apparently
once fastened to {L strap Vbehind. By the left car
A ;_;'i,am-, Jriaz/ci2z_g cup of delicate grcexl. colour, with an.opaq1.1e

 


 

 

.,,, ‘:7: ._.:.: _,._.;..z.. ,, 3.31.: >73: :._..c:c.:‘ Q.:_i,._ F


'jI11].1 SAXON CJEME’I.‘ERY AT BIFRONS. 303

 

White wavy orna.n1ent running round it lialf way down the side.
Its height is 6% inches, antl its width at the lip 2% inches,
from which it tapers to at roundeil point at the bottom. It lay
horizontally, with one side to the car, and the lip to the
Sl1()11l(fl(31“. (Plate I.)

2. Skeleton over (3 feet high. Grave it little more than
l feet deep. No relies.

 Skeleton large, and onits side. Grave Sl1{;Lll()W. No relies.

4:. Skeleton over 6 feet high. Grave 3 feet 6 inches deep.
Near the I1ll(l(llG EL knife, an iron. buckle, an iron awl, zmcl what
was appzirently the curved hzintlle of IL pair of iron sliears.

5.3., Skeleton almost entirely ilecztyerl. Grave more than

 

 N . . .

Ell / feet in length. Between the thighs two bronze /ce_7/.9; near them
 :1 bronze bus/srlc; a.n(l above this two sinztll cireiilzir /Jreoc/w.s', of
§“ bronze gilt and of slightly (lished Sl'lEl1__)(3, each embossed. with 3.

rude "face in full front : the pair are exactly alike. A knife and
a. few other iron ,[’regn’1ents, one probably another key. On the
left side of the chest [L 101.13; bronze ])z'7z; and near the left
shoulder "four loose beatls, one of green glass, and nnotlier
'll2{CLl. on EL ‘thin bronze ring, possibly an earring.

(3. Skeleton certainly f.LW()11’)a11)S. Gl'£LV(3 8 feet in length.
lletweon the tliigli bones was lying, with its back upwziiils, EL
spoon, with eight sinall pe1‘fo1'zL1;ioi1s in the bowl, ;.L1’i’zn'igerl
crueil"ori:n.ly: it is a.pp2Lrently of bronze, SllVCI‘B(l. over, ztnrl has

'Un(l.er its bowl lay a small cry/.s'z‘al Zzail, perforateil as for
lienagiiig, and under this 2). heap of thirty-nine small bezicls,
mostly of green and blue glass, with one larger of’ amber,
probably the chain from which the eryetztl hall  hung.
Just above the left wrist was £1. bronze bracelet, on the left side
two liannner-shsipecl. bronze I/‘roaches, nearly zililce, but one
longer tlizni the other; on the mithlle of the chest 21 flat
circa/,'a7" éroae/L, also of bronze, engrzwetl with EL rude circular-
_pn.ttern; ziiirl near tliis EL small trictiignlar bronze plate, with
rema,i.1~.s of wood £L‘l1l1£I.Cll(',‘(l to it. At the left shonlclcr an iron
pin, a.n<l below this an iron buckle. At the forelieatil. 3. large

  

 V -.:,;;-M ~
...~,..;.-w...e...-,n....

ivory heacl.
7. A ehil.(l’s skeleton. Grzwe lying ll‘. and ‘N., with head
to ‘WV. No relics.

Sl‘\’Vl\.\' LN!) CH,‘1,':'4'l'\l: l}\Ll.; l?Jlcl,CVLl‘}T \.:\‘]) l3IlUOC!ll'“i (il'1\\‘(’ (5,

 

 

ét thin bronze ring attziehetl to a loop at the top of the l1an.d.l(:. '


3 41 THE SAXON onnnrrnnr All‘ nrrrmns.

8. Grave 3 feet deep, apparently a wo1nan’s. No rel,ies.

9. Grave 2 feet 6 inches deep. Under the skeleton two or
three inches more of loose chalk. No relics.

10. Skeleton 5 feet 9 inches in
length, lying with its legs (21."()S}7=.(:(l.
Grave 2 feet 3 inches in depth, Unclcr
the backbone a bronze /zuc/cle. At the
left side three thin bronze plates about
one inch. square, and at the riglit e.|.bow
- a knife.

11. Skeleton quite 6 feet in length, but apparently that of
a wonnan. Grave nearly 33 Feet d.cep. 'U:n(ler the
Waist a bronze buckle and two little browse 3/,zm.'.s', all
.retaining traces of gilding, and with them t'ragn:n'nts
apparently of leather, probably part of a belt. At
the left side a knife.

12. Grave 3 feet deep. Near the waist two bronze l)2'ooc.:/Les

  
 

of the ring sliape, one _perfectly flat, the other rounded. and
mna1nente(.l. with grotesgne silalces’ l1ea<,l.s. On. the chest a
lmilc, and on the right artn a browse arinlet. At the right
side a flat bronze omm;z.c9'z.[, set
with an inlaid pattern of glass and
enamel, and partly gilt ; 2.t11(l near
.it wooden reniaine, a.pp:11‘e11tl.y of a
small box, with an iron fragment,
probably its handle, but y,)c1"lizi};s
the bow of  h‘u.ekle.

 

THE SAXON ()‘E1\’.[ETE1{.Y AT BIFRONS. 305

13. Skeleton only 41: feet 10 inches. Grave 2 feet 5?; inches
in depth. No relies.

'1./ls. Grave of a woman. Only a piece of iron, a nail or a
large ‘pin.

 Grave of a woman. Between the legs 35 heads. On
the left fore arm ‘three
iron rings, and close by
a knife, with remains of a
wooden sheath. N ear the
waist a small rectangular

 

bronze Z‘/mac/’1., set with
fi.v‘e pieces of glass, :now colourless ,' its pin.
is also of ‘bronze. Near it a small fiat cir—
cular plate of bronze, perforated‘ in the
2.nidd.l.e, and by this a bronze ferrule about
l1a,l‘l"~~an—incl1 in length. On. each side of the
neck. a bronze braver’; of the lnnnrner shape,
but more nearly resembling a Roman type.
11 I. an empty space of the grzwe, beyond the
head, and among some dark soil which was
probably hair, a long pin of bronze, almost
exactly like that of" Grave 5 ,- and near it a
small bronze _pla.te, bent to the shape of the
binding of a book, and enclosing remains apparently of wood
fastened in by two rivets.

 

16. 'l‘h.e skeleton in this grave was
much displaced
and mutilated: it
lay on its side,
with the knee
pointed forward
and thefoot back-
ward, but with
only one foot and
fore-~legbone: the
top of the skull .-
was also severed
l:‘ro_1;n the liead, and was lying in exactly reversed
position. Near the left hand was a single head.

VOL. X. X

   

 


3% TILE SAXON GE1\IE’J.‘E1tY Ali.‘ :e1r1;o1~m.

At the riglit shoulder a flat I)7'00c/To of the ring shape,
engravetl with small circular ornaments’, and at the left
sl\.o11l<;ler another Ll?'UOC]l of a 1Jl0Ll‘lllCa.l3lOD. of the hannne;
shape: both are of bronze.

1?’. Down both sides of the skeleton, and across the top of
the skull, there were <,lieti1:.1etlyland
continuously noticeable in this g1.'av'e
traces of black soil, of which ‘.1. lizwe
observed less ren1ar.!:al)l<; in ..11.(iG.‘J
in other graves. They s.r.>e1.1) beyond
a doubt to he remains of a wooden.
Collin. On either elioillder a hron-;:
{W000/1 of the 1'ing sl.1a1,)e9 and a lifiw
beads on the Iieek, .n1ostl_y of })<).>.'ce—
l.ai.n.

18. Grave 8 feet 4«
haelies (leap, lying lower
clm-v.n. the hill. than the
g:)llCl‘£Ll group. No L'eli(_3s_

19. Grave 3 feet
3..u.elies deep. No _rel.i(:s.

20. (:iTiLVG of a child.
l‘*~l<> relies.

   

fail. Near the waist a
large beosd of brown glass

 

2: limitb, a _1"i1.1;;-5*, some
bvonz-e studs, and f1'a.g..
‘um,’ of iron. At the
wzcsli a few beads and two
re:‘ua.rl<.a'L>le Zfiroocfaw of the

<1-.>%gj<A.A_dé:r:-hi —,..ZN.. l_...-...,4...._‘...

 

TIJLE SAXON CEMETERY Afl‘ BIFRONS. 307

hammer sliape, their lower ends being semi—eircula1°, but from the
eircL1n1fe1‘enCe of the semi—cirele radiate five outstancling points,
set with small circular pieces of red glass; red glass is also set at
the upper end of each brooch; the pair are exactly alike. On

r the top of the skull some fragments of gold
 wire or threacl, consisting of "very narrow strips,

' cut from a thin beaten plate of pure gold. By
the shape into which they are folded they have clearly been.
interwoven into some substance of the nature of a ribancl,
which has perisliecl. Their gold is so pure that a burial. of
some 1300 years had not cliseoloured it in the least. At the
left side of the head a circular bronze dish, much broken and
llecayed, surroundetl by remains of wood, as if it had formed.
the interior lining of a wooden vessel. In sifting the rubbish
was found an iron key.

 At the left wrist a few beads, mostly of amber, and by
the left side a knife and two little plates of bronze, perhaps
part of the handle. Near the waist a buckle and belt ornavncni,
both of bronze silvered over: the ornarnent is flat and slightly
(liSl1C(l, and rutlely engraved, and the broad root of the buckle’s
tongue is (leeoratetl to correspond.

 

353; C-l1'ave of a woman; very shallow. At the left hip 3..

X2


80:3 rnr; SAXON cnmvrnrrnar Arr 1:1::enoNs.

}}erl’orated object of baked clay, and of
a low conical shape; pe1'l1ape a spindle-
whorl. Near the middle of the grave a
bronze buckle of peculiar r~:hape, with.
pin of iron; a bronze brooc/L of the
hammer shape, very 1nnc_h_ ,}fGSf3.lfIIl)ll1’1§_a;
those of Grave 1:5, and a pce'ulia1' u7'nu,-
avzeozt of bronze, rep1.'e:senti1n.§ a dog of
the greyhound tygge catching a hare by

 

  
 

the tail: ‘it. is of flat ohl<)1lg sshape, and '3 slit
later-a.l.ly tlnongli a great part of its wid,tl1._,
exactly in the fashion of the .handle of a clasp
k.nit'e, which it has probably been, ;Ll,‘1;l1o11_gl1. the
absence of any stain of iron rust 1'I1'.Ll<'.BS '_i.t
probable that the blade was gone belbre lmrial.
Battely gives us two specilnene p1'eeis*»e.ly similar
found at lteenlver, and believed by him to be
l_l;()1'l‘1‘d1l ;"‘ a.1.a«:l li¥'l..l‘. ltoaeh Sflllllll, in ‘lll.llSt].‘2.Ll3l'l1g
these in his own work on lteeulver, 'fi;§11_1*es
a.nothe.r from lladstoek in l‘lee<3):,1‘ but without
giving the ci.ren.mstanees of its (lie(:ove1‘y. A
l"o1.1rl:.h, taken. frorn a grave ee.rtain.ly‘ SEt)C(')l1_, is
deecriber.l and figU.].‘C(l by l)ou;.r'las in the ‘ l‘lGY\l€|,

Uri ta!x.n.ica, ",_,

so that the balan_ee rd evi.de11e<.'~,
sewn}.-5 in lavoxlr of their Saxon origin.

 llv the loft s.i(l.e at e\vor<',l, and lying l1all"way up it a
l<',H1lC, as tlzteuglt 21 double slleath. may have l.1el(l both. lfiy the
rt;:.*;l~=1, <—:.hould.er a +;:p(—:ar head , zmd a Hat piece of iron by the "left
1%,, wit!) traces of wood on both sides of it ; this may porseildy
luau: been a sharpened. ferrule to the spear.

 

° Antiq. lmtup. 1:. St ,- tab. 3, Hg. 5}.
," ‘lti.elfl.aerongl\, l’-eeulver. and Lymne,’ 1). 207.
5,3 1’. B2, and pl. }I..\’..

 

 

._ ___A_..___.......,.........._..‘_ . , ,....;....a —«—u..;..............::z..t.».«..;;.;:.;..;......,.,

run saxon CEMETERY AT BIFRONS. 309

 Grave of a child; skeleton quite decayed. At the left
side a knife. Near tl1e head two bugle beads, and a very small
bronze plate, which crumbled to dust at once. i

26. Grave of a child, and very shallow. Near the hands a
knife and an iron ring.

2'7. Grave 23 feet 2 inches in depth. Skeleton only a little
over  feet in length, and with legs evidently deformed. It lay
E. and VV. vith the head. ‘V. 011 the chest a large knife or
dagger, and lying across it  piece of iron. curved at the end ;
also, close by, a straight pin of iron, perhaps an awl. On the

left for3—ar1n a bronze buckle, with fragrnents apparently of

leather in its irmnediate neighbourhood preserved. by its rust.
It has three rivets at its back, fastening to the belt. 011 the
left shoulder a spear head.

28. At the '\'V£l.lS'l3 a bronze buckle of ordinary type. At the
neck some beads.

29. Grave of a Woman, 9 feet in length, including a space
of 1 foot above the head, in
which was dark soil. as of a
body, not improbably that of a
baby. At the left side a ltoman
bronze coin, much worn. Near
the waist two ll£L1‘1‘1lIl(—)1'-~Sl1EL1.)G(l
brooches, with rounded lower
ends, each throwing out five
radiating points, and very‘
strongly resc1nbl.ing those of
Grave 2], but Without the
settings of red glass. liather
higher lay a group of iron
objects, consisting of three keys
(one broken to pieces), a ltnife,
two iron rings, and ly'in.;; flat
against the larger of the two a
small diamondnsliaped plate of
iron, perforated in the centre.
Under the waist a bronze /mo/cle of rectangular shape, with
ll’2t§,']Ll{3I1'lJS of leather e-lose by. On the right arm a thin armlet
of bronze. At the neck a cluster of beads, nearly all of amber,



 


Sin THE SAXON CEMIETERY All.‘ ]}I'_F]3.0‘.NS.

and, possibly strung; in the SEIIIIC
necklace, ‘four ci.renl:ir ;)r,»rm‘Zam'.s-, 01'
pure gold beaten into a thin. plate,
and with golden. loops for suspen-
sion. Of those the two sn1e.ll.est
are eXactl.y alike, and :ipparenl..ly
l'xan;in'ierc:(l froin the ea-into mould,"
and those and the l.:,n‘g§cst bear
that broken type of Oi'1la.l11(}.l’1l}fl,-~«
tion. which ‘mite luave
eonipared to :li':1.gine11l:a.i'y
snakes, but which com.»
parison of many ripcoi-v
mens shows pretty oon--
clusively to he merely
l)lnn.dored irnitation of

  
 
  
 
  
  
  

'Iig'n’res from classical.
coins, not irnprobably Greek, rude
eopy being tul<e.n from ]'1x(.lf:-. copy, till
all trace of the original design w'a:'-.
lost. The fonrtli is a Very reinarlcvr
able instance, and has already been
C1'lgl'3N€(l in our Eightli V'olun1e,""'

in illustration of Mr. l.laig§li’s paper
on Qltnne.‘~::: it ie believed by him, on eoniparison with other
similar desi;-pus, to iepresent a fallen enemy in an. attitude
of ‘:upplicatio1‘n On the head fraginents of gold ‘wire or braitl,
W,lllI3ll have (svidcntly been interwoven in :1 ‘riba:-.1(l, 2m in
(§l_i:*:».ve ‘/.:‘,l.. At the neck two .*m:iall. ‘round l)1’O(IWJl1€.}S, ot‘ eonmnon
.lf~’{.L:i:t.i:il1type, ‘tool: set with one eontral and three ra<'liatii.=g
;_:s.ie:.*x.-:5 of red glass in i*ai:~:ed settings ; but in one brooch the
glzwz-:  lost, sli:i;wirig' an ni1ilei'settii'1§g; of tinfoil, <,w':%(:lc1'J,t;l_y to
l..H.‘inj2j; m.,<t tln: tr2m.e_pare,i.1e'_y' of the glass. On one .h.and a tl1:in.
:=~,_p.I.I‘.=-J, »‘.£ll.‘.'{3l' ring, much l)rol.<en ; on the otlier a p.l.ai.n tliin 2.-i..ng;
of i he same metal.

#5.). h'l[L1el1 black soil on the left side of the grave. A lmifo.
and an iron buckle, fitting on the tongue of which. W€l5:.1 a fermle
or 2 mg of bronze.

"’ "Arch. <.}aIit.,' vol, viii., p. 198,

’1‘II]<) eixxon CEMETERY AT i3In12,oNe. 311

31. Grave of a child, 3 feet 8 inches in depth. Near the
left hand a lmife, an iron ring, and l'ra.gincnts apparently of
keys. Beads at the neck.

32. have of a woman, with much black soil as of W0O(l.
enclosing the skeleton, clearly a eollin. Under the left knee
S011.1Cl.)CH.LlS,]]1()Stl,y of anzibcr. At the left side a knife, a few
Ifirligiiieiits of iron, and a ring or large head of ivory, upon
which lay a sinell f:liamond~sl1a.ped plate of iron, perforated in
the middle, and apparently strung on the same sti*in;,>;. On the
chest two small >;\.{l()11l1.(1)1l1 coins, one of which has preserved the
tcx'tn.re of the <,lres;<s adhering to it.

33. Grave of a child. A few heads at the neck, one of
new-uliarly l)right blue glass.

3/-L-. Grave '7 feet 10 inches in length, 3 foot fl inobez~s in
depth. At the waist a bronze buckle, and on the chest a short
.l<ni.l'c. On the left Side of the C‘l‘1C%3l.) a epea.r-head, and the ‘iron.
nrnbo of a shield, pointing upwards, with the iron. handle below
it, and iron braces or supports of the shield lying towards the
head and feet, but not laterally. From the position of the
niznbo, close to the wall of" the grave, the shape of the shield.
could not have been eircu'_l.ar,‘and the absence of any braces
extending lat;erally confirms this view. Near this a piece of
bronze plating, bent double, much reseinbling that in Gave 15.

35. By the right leg two bronsze z’a_g.s*
or rivets, eo1itai1’1ing pins of bronze, which
have apparently secured them to a strap.
Near the waist an amber head, 2 l{]'1lf(;‘,
and another fragment of iron. l‘lea17 the
head an amber head.

36. Grave of a child. One glass head of pretty design, at
the neck.

 

 Grave 3 feet 6 inches in depth," the bones entii=el_y
decayed. ’l_‘he iron Limbo of a shield, with iron s.tnd_s or 1’iV{;)tfi,
lml; no braces as in Grave Bat. This lay again so close to the
left side of the grave that the shape of the shield must
necessarily have been either oval or oblong. The iron handle
of the shield lay as before "under the umho, and near i.t some
::ni1.all, bronze studs, probably‘ part of the shield. Near the feet
the ferrule of a spear, and its head beside the right cheek.


 

34%]‘,‘{'': THE SAXON ctmrximrrmlnr AT i£§1T]i‘1LON'S.

 

.=.:u* the w1°.ists
::‘ M1515 iron 1<iug,a1'1{i on the top of the head 3. fargo1r om.
'.§.31.nm: the left side Inuch light brown 1'er1.t,aii:;:3 of vwwd, :g_z0:ssil)1y

Ntrzar the Vvaist 3. bronze: >§.)l1('3kl(f% zmd a 1(.u.ife,

0f 2;, how, h:;Lvi11g no'Lhi11g c()1'1'esp0r1(1i11g; (>112. the .1'i.ghi;s‘id(::1:0
.=s’u,e-;;q;e.s”s 2:, <;zo'JTi,x1.

58. G‘r3:':.we of as Womzm, but the bonca ‘\VC1’(3 ztlmost dsazayetli.
:.r.w 9132 '3.‘ 7210.05; of wood down the left Sid:-;-, Uxaclcr the '\mist an
Ursxxaxaacw.bu<:1<1L: with two bronze  and ‘§}l‘:L()%(3B' of 1,e:.:,t'hm:* 2:l,\out
i:l.1.e.‘::u,. At fihe neck 2:. few bcatls.

39. Down the 14’:f:% side my 21 good 2:'svm.'(:§., with 2:, Mia’ uf
blwlma ‘pa1*tJ,_y' s:il\'Te1.‘e(1 and _pz1.1't1y gi_I.i;, am nc:;r.Ir it 1;h3‘4.':z:; flat
:9>'~;w,<1x:.A.:,«:;:;,£.s 0f ssilV’c1' g;ilt zmtl two of 5rr0¢r..z'(:, 22.1} aiztn/:he{.!. to Whébt
sc£:n1s to be the 1“e1:1'1.ai;1s mf’ .l%,3‘z,‘uHl43].", and ams;
probably the sword-~«b:_>]_t,. "JfE'1<~. 1En*ee xailvm,’
()rnzm19u'tss are a'lik<.:, c.>:~.:<:r::pt in. their c.hzv,3(2(,1
01'1'.1a11'1e11t:Ltio11. I hzwe (21’1g.i":n70d 2» 1'1.» 11 1%’-,.‘
p1'(>se1\;(:2Ltim1 of 0110, with si(J:3 v‘i(:='\v, sh=.::VVi1»g‘
the mzu11w(_=,1‘ in "which. it held the bolt ; of
‘xihv: other two I hzwe gs; "C.K1UJ,G 0:i°1’1a1n(>1'1ta,Li0n cmiy. :1 (3 WM.
Em ohmrvcél that both on H10 sword 'l1’i.lt and cm. one nf tlm
:>H1z1:,r:1cnts occur instzxluzcs of the Aryzmu 1*(:1ig;i(zus s_ymbo1
<:::.£l:>,d H10 ‘V‘3u»a.9£i/w,,”’ ‘W011. 'kn()W.u.  :r0p1:'cse11’ti11g the _p:1‘i:m.i.-«
’sl;i~.*z—> 'w0o(lc11 1'nachim’: for pr<)(l1.1ci.11;_;' fire by f1'5ci;iou,zu‘1d 'l,m3:],
ms typixzzai of h,ea‘t; zmtl life. The other o.1‘1\ai:n(:1’1ta alsw bear

   

,!'n';:>'e<,::«=,m',1i: lighixxing. ’,[‘h(::3(: z,x..n<1 si1nHn,.1,’ z—X1’yz-Ln R3/3}J1>()ls are not
2\.§€,c;g':—:I.is::§.‘ Lmusuzxl nu the nrn2n.m).w1ts nf ‘the ca,1*.l.vV 'E.‘cui;o11in:
m-xsetz, ‘U211; Ixzwc hitherto been 11xo1*e{)f‘te1..1. f'ou1:d on f5<:a1.x.<’!iuavi:u1
?;}:s:x.,n ma, A1'1g]i.<:z,I1 1'c'Lia:.s. '{‘h’i“,(: 'inst:,u1cc;ss uf Hm §b1‘1nm' will

1

Em-§‘z;m.;z.«§ (:n;2;1‘zLV0d. in Mn _!,[:Lis.§h’s p;\..1)c'z' in. o11__r}_<"3’r;}:x"‘!) V<>I1vm2>,.’r’=

 
 
 
  

u.'=‘-1<;m;=, 2n:’—si:m.1.<3c 017
3

’1J.1ci..z' d,i.%«3<)\*e1,‘y among the J'1:t:f;a:>:s oi’ ‘i:<..m»é;.
(3105:; to i}}.i.<3 sxvord lzxy "t;,h.r3. ‘Emu
‘I.
s:¥hiel.('l, which :1ggai.n <::,0'uld sunmely
have baton r,:i1.'c1,1.].2,L'r. ,/15$ H10 f:)e:t 'i;w«:,.>

1) moms of 

  

  

1,m1h0, hmnlie, an

 

knives, two £27011 nails, and ma, iwrx.

‘ :‘u‘<;7,1. <.J:u1L,,’ \m.l. vii.i., pp. 180, l,8i,, 262.

 

"e
.-4

SW01! D IITUL‘

 

A X D

  

_,
 '93

> \ '4 X

;. n < ff  1,3525

9; K ( ‘  ' :‘ \.

'4 ‘* . ~ 4 '5 ‘ ’’
bvxr J / \ ~.: PK

.«  v» r x
: / i ‘Mi >3

4 J 2 « >..

H 2 :5?‘

‘$3 "l.“A'rFA'A”n‘-'.:z'1;.‘ "'

 

 

 

 

‘A'.\VAV.17h'¢1V/:VA‘hVA'AVAVl1!'
D

AhVAV‘,x‘..'v’.\V4VJ.‘AVA‘?/A

»'~.71JaYH U. '!H7.\.T- OR—N'A.I~[fiN'l'S.

G1"J.V'0 33!).


‘W ‘raA\}.1‘{_) ‘|:..')l)O1i§( (mamm-mxrmvn

"fl? 0;H2.[E) ‘Il.’)O«')?[f{ KO €[S')I.'>TA{\[l1'

 

 

     
  

  
 
 
 

‘C3,./’

0//'

HE!.lii§l!E1%fiE§ilIWEllfilliilIIIHWE

 

k.

 


T1-IE saxon OEMZETERY AT BIFRONS. 313

buckle. Between the knees a buekl.e of bronze plated with
silver, l'o'u_r bronze tags or rivets, and near them three little
ormmzents of silver. Near the left shoulder a SpCEL1'~l1E)1).(l.

««li0. G-‘ave small, but apparently not a ehild’s. Near the
waist a bronze buckle and two small bronze studs ,- also two
bronze tongues for the‘ ends of a
strap or bolt, meant apparently to
make it easier to push them through
the buckle. On the chest  knife
and some other nndistinguishable iron objects.

 

zlil. By the left side a knife, an iron key, and two iron.
ririgs, and near them an iron buckle with a bronze ferrule on
the tongue as in Grave 30. On the chest towards the right
side a large harnnier-shaped bronze l)r00(:h elaborately embossed,
which came out of the grave in the three pieces in which it
had been originally nianufaetured, the soldering or cement
having decayed. The three divisions are
given in the engraving of its reverse side.
Two smaller lzrooc/ms of the same shape,
of bronze much gilt and set with pieces
of red glass; one of these had lost its
point, apparently before burial. Near them
lay too another very small
brooc/7. of bronze, shaped to
represent an eagle, or other
bird with a hooked beak. Its
pin points to the b.ir<l’s head,
confirming my remark in the
preface, derived from the posi-
tion in which hannner-shaped
brooches are found, that the longer brooches pointed their pins
upwards. Also a. buckle, a strap-tongue, and a small tag or rivet,
all of b.ronze, and four small brass Roinan coins. At the feet a
few beads, inostly of bugle shape, and near them. a flat circular
disc or eonnter, apparently of a black stone polished, which may
possibly have been a touchstone for assaying gold. At the
head another series of beads, principally amber, and among
them a few links of a bronze chain; one of these beads is a
large one of green glass nearly an inch in diameter, and a very

   


 TIIE SAXON CEMETERY AT l3I]“RONS.

5w:,tu'tl{‘x.1l. t_pcci11'1e11. How also was some go‘l(lW1'1'0, W()VG1121E‘»
zmvt of H, :rilnu1_(l. On. 21, left finger 2» silver ring sp'h"a..lly s.hzLp0<l.
730rncwhc1:‘e in the grave was EL sn12s.llf'rag1:uen.t of gretau gln.s.~;:_.,
anal by the ll(3Zl.(l a very hcatltiful aml (leli4':al.e  cup, at
i.ncl1cs in height rmd  "inches in (liametcr at the 1'n0ul.l1, a,n(l,
'€.:zwe1"§x1;,{, in l)cll—sl1a.};)ed form. to a. point at the other end.
(Pl.. ll.) 'l‘l100tl1e_1.' Cllfl. lxowever seems to be broken. at tlm
'tip, mul 1m't'i1np1'0lml')ly once endenl in {L ssn.m,ll circular l)0£;:3,
lil<..e tlml} s'h.n.il:u? but 1I1()I'O cla‘l)0mte c11p l'1'om Gl'f.I.VC iv. in Llm
23311: 4.J<:n'1<:tcJ.‘y, figurezl at p, 316 of our Fifth Volume.

(442,. Grave '7 feet in length and 3 feet in depth. It lay
Close by the side of the last grave, so that 1>0ssi_l)ly the two may
lmvc lwceu 1111§le1:‘ one tumulus. Both sc01‘m:(l nmre czI.1‘0l"u.ll.y
=.>..nd 2'(3ggj'1:1lzt:1*l;,r dug than most of tlrmir .m;)ig{l.1b0111's;. Illy the)
riglxt 'l.oot were fm.g1nc11'ts a,_ppn.1’c11tly0l" ivory‘, llwtwtéiérl the
thigh. lmu:-as lay a, spoon of silver gilt, pe1’f"o1'a.tc(l i.1:Ltl1<: howl wJ'tl1_
nine ::x'nzL,ll' holes in c1'ucif0J’n1 pa.ttC)_'n,zu1¢.l 01’1xa.m(;n'tez.l with.
mzil gl::.s;s in ZL misecl setting at the junction of the lxandlc :.uu,l.
l)<;~w'l. X1: is inlaid up the _l'ro1.1l. of l}llUl1fL1)(l.l(-) with sometl1in;;_g
.1’(§f:iGl'!LLl}lll){g( niello Work ; aml, the top of the .l1.2m<ll(> 113,5: kl. t.h.in.
silver? ring; us for su.spensi.0n. Close to it was 21, crymal ball
s111’17<>1s‘11cl(:(l by two flat silver rings, which unite at the top in :1,
r9..ise.«.l m'nzu_nent perforated to mlnfit 2). 1'in,g' of silver wire for
sH_s_p<).u:si0u. At the left side of the legs were two knives, zu_)_
;i.mu l~‘.(7y, an iron l)l.lCl§l0, and some other iron l:3.'ag1'1'1r:.l1ts ,- and
1u.>a,y 1;l;.em (1. small coLm.1;e.1.' of ;§l‘C"«3Il _p(>J"c(:.lm'11, 1*atl1e.rl)1"01<eJ1.
01:: ‘ll li.ng;o1r of the right; '.l.uLn<,l 11. 7'in.g of silver ggilt, set with 3.

 

mil, s‘l:m'1£§'. or piece of glass, and exactly the aélxape of a imodem

sruorr AN!) omcsmx. 1:,u.1.. Grave


 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 
 

Ami


 

 

 

 

i .A.,......,‘.,.

CE1\IE’1‘EI’uY AT 13II«*n0Ns. 815

SAXON

signet ring ; and on :1 finger of the left
hand El, plain ring of silver. Near the
waist two lmmmer—slJ.',tpe(l brooches
of bronze, silvered and gilt, zmd set
with the L1E5uEtl1’C(l glass; the pins of
both are of bronze, and they are
exactly alike in all respects. Near
these also were 21, buckle and two
studs of bronze, and at small circular
plate of bronze with 3. hole through
the middle, and with them a small
ln'e.ss ltoman coin. Up the chest and
to the neck 3, large quantity of bezuls
of clill"erent materials, glass, porcelain,
ez.u'tl1enwm'e, and zninher; mid aniong
the last one line circular ‘flat bend,
nearly an inch in diameter. Vtlith
the lie)-mlls were two small circular brooches, both set with red
glass; one is of iron, the other

48. Grave about 4« feet in

 

of bronze gilt.

width and 3 feet in depth; it
COT1'l3tLlUC(l two skeletons lying side by side. VVith the left
skeleton no re.lies. Witli the right were two spear heads at
the right shoulder, one of it larger size than usual ; and at
the right foot one fe1.'1'ule
only. Lying erosswnys on
the stomach were a (l2xgge1*
and a knife, in 3. position as
if one wooden sheatli, of
which there were traces, lmd
hel.d them hoth. Near‘ the
waist 2” bronze buckle, with

long ornamental fastening of
the same metal, into wliieh
the belt has ‘fitted and been
riveted ; with two other belt ornamcnls of the same pattern and
metal, tlirough which the helt has passed in the some manner 5
with tl'1ein EL bronze strap-tongue.

4~/-‘lc. Grave of a. child and very shallow; the skeleton quite
decayed a.wa,.y. Neal‘ the neck a few heads.