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DESCRIPTIONS OP CRANIA.
both series *. The central of the three lower tumiili was foimd to contain the remains of a wooden
chest, about fom- feet square, holding funereal vessels of glass and pottery, an iron lamp, and a
small deposit of bm-nt human bones. The soiithernmost of this row had a brick sepidchre carefidly
constructed, wth similar contents to the other. One of the glass urns still held incinerated
bones, among which was a small signet ring and a coin of the Emperor Hadi-ian. The deposit
in the tbii'd had probably been placed in a wooden chest, and, besides such objects as those met
Avith in the others, contained an elegant bronze jug, standing on a bronze dish. The great conical
tumuli were opened by means of tunnels diiven, on the level of the ground, to theii- centres.
When the tunnel under the loftiest had reached such point, the remains of the wooden chest
were encoimtered, containing the ftmereal deposit. This consisted of a number of bronze objects
of elegant form and ornamentation; among the rest a spherical vessel, with a rectangular bowhandle,
richly enamelled in different colom-s; a fine prceferimilum, inlaid with silver, and of great
beauty and exceUence; an elegant lamp, a folding chair, and a pair- of strigils, all of bronze.
Besides these relics, there were glass vessels and an earthen urn; and, outside the chest, a large
amphora of reddish pottery, tilled with calcined human bones. The opening of the south
tumulus revealed another sepulchral chest, furnished with very simüar funereal vessels. Such
Avas also the result of tunnelling to the centre of the remaining barrow, for one had been distm-bed
and the deposit removed at an earlier period, possibly the time alluded to by Camden. The
objects brought to the -day by the last exploration rivalled those discovered before in their
perfection. Probably no examination of Roman tumuli in this province of the Empire has proved
so instructive as this of the Bartlow Hills; and we believe none has disclosed such an extensive
series of rich and elegant objects employed in funereal rites, though doubtless also of ordinary
domestic appKcation.
Mr. Gage Rokewode described a long substructm-e of cemented flint-work exposed between
the two ranges of tumuli, and which he regarded as " the foundation of some sepulchrumt."
Among the íünts a coin of the Emperor Valens was discovered.
In the year 1852, the Hon. R. C. NeviUe, F.S.A., now Lord Braybrooke, made an extensive
excavation within a hundred yards of the north-eastern base of the great tumuli, and uncovered
the foundations of a Roman viQa. Diu-ing these excavations a variety of Roman coins and other
relics were found J.
In was in the year following, 1853, that the same learned gentleman, whose antiquarian
researches ai-e so well known, and whose assistance and liberality we have had other occasions to
recount in grateful terms, renewed his excavations on the same side of the tmnuU. This investigation
was made in a small enclosure about a hundred yards in front of the large barrows, and
resulted in the discovery of a number of graves. Eive skeletons were met with, and the crania
of the two first exposed were kindly transmitted to us. Those of the others were so much
decayed as not to admit of removal. The two skeletons refei-red to lay about feet deep at full
length, paraUel to each other and about a yard apart; their heads to the west and feet to the
east, then- arms placed by the sides and hands on the hips. A few small Roman brass coins and
pieces of pottery were met with in the soü above them, and a third brass coin of Constantine lay
upon one of the bodies. Besides these, a third brass coin of Tetricus was found.
* Archisologifl, 1834, vol. xxv. p. 1 ; 1836, vol. xxvi. pp.
300, 4C2 ; 1839, TOI. SSTIII. p. IJ 1842, vol. xxi.x. p. 1.
These descriptioDS are fully illustrated with fine plates of the
various antiquities brought to light.
t Archeologia, 1836, vol. xxvi. p. 462.
I Described in the rchieological Journal of the Institute,
vol. X. p. 17.
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ANCIENT ROMAN—BARTLOW HILLS, ESSEX.
If the report mentioned by Camden be worthy of credit, his is the only previous record of
the discovery of the remains of unburnt interred bodies in the sepulchres of the Bartlow Hills,
or their immediate vicinity. Eor, as we perceive, the careful explorations described in the
" Archoeologia " revealed solely those deposits which mark the rite of incremation. The two ranges
of tumuli themselves may with every probability be regarded as tombs in which the ashes of
some of the opulent inhabitants of the neighbouring vUlas were disposed. Their remains were
submitted to the funereal pyre, and their ashes preserved in costly vessels with every care to give
them perpetuity. This was the Roman custom, from the first century before Christ up to the
time of the later Antonines, the beginning of the third centm-y A.D. It will be observed that the
coin found in the cinerary urn was one of Hacbian's (117—138 A.D.). Not long after the reign
of this emperor, burial of the corpse entire became frequent among the Romans, and bm-ning l)y
the end of the fourth century had fallen into disuse. The later coins, which accompanied the
buried bodies, those of Tetricus and Constantine (267—337 A.D.), support this view. We are
thus led to the result, that the interments discovered by Mr. Neville most likely belong to the
latter part of the fom-th, or to the begioning of the fifth century. The exact orientation of the
dead is worthy of special observation, being a Christian practice, although not exclusively so.
That the occupants of the tombs in and near the Bartlow Hills had emigrated from the borders
of the imperial city itself is highly probable.
Of the two skuUs derived from the skeletons first met with by Mr. NeviUe, one, an imperfect
calvarium, is that of a man of about 50 years of age; the other, here figured, is the remains of a
woman of near 30 years old. Both exhibit that conformation which belongs to the Roman
people; the one we have chosen for representation, in an eminent degree for the cranium of a
woman. Eor this reason we regard it as the fittest specimen we could select as the tyjoe of
cranial configuration, in the female sex, among the ancient Romans who settled in Britain.
It is a skuU of great beauty, possessed of much delicate feminine grace. In all its proportions
it is small. The cheek depressions are unusually deep; the lower border of the orbit hangs
over them, and the opening of the infra-orbitary foramen descends, as it were, from a horizontal
plate. The teeth have aU been in their places, save one dens sapiens. They are slender and free
from all disease, but weU-worn, even through the enamel in many places. This no doubt is a
very moderate attrition compared Avith that observed in the skulls of ancient Britons. The orbits
are almost square, with a gentle obHquity downwards and outwards. The nasal bones are not
long, but bear traces of an aquiline profile. The glabeUa is full and smooth, and the forehead
has exhibited traces of that squareness, which is so marked in the ancient Romans. The whole
countenance has been of very comely form, well becoming the
" Silent war of lilies and of roses,"
of Which it was doubtless the field. The vertical region of the skuU presents a great freedom
from inequalities, and is moderately elevated. It forms an almost regular oval in its outline;
for the upper occipital region, where there exists a triquetral bone at the end of the sagittal
suture, is prominent. The same featm-e of graceful smoothness is impressed on the basis of the
cranium. The palate has a lofty arch, but is short. Erom the general aspect and graceful proportions
of this bony casket, we cannot at all doubt that it Avas once the residence of youthful
beauty.
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