40 ON THE TUMULI OF ST. ADHELM's HEAD DISTRICT. 



higlily ornamented. At four inches from the lip, was a double 

 moulding, ornamented with small circles impressed by a punchy 

 or some such implement. Above this were four handles of an 

 unusual form, also ornamented with circles and scored lines. 

 The lip, which grooved outwards, was ornamented both on the 

 inner and outer sides, with four alternately diagonal and vertical 

 lines, formed by the pressure of a coarse cord upon the clay, 

 denominated the rope ornament. It contained the burned bones 

 of an old person. At a distance of two and a half feet on the 

 south side of this, and about two feet above the floor of the bar- 

 row, was a small urn which measured five inches in diameter, 

 and five in height, embedded in earth. It contained only slight 

 traces of burnt bones; but over it was an apparently human 

 shin bone. And at the distance of five feet on the north side of 

 the first mentioned urn, and two feet above the floor, was found 

 another small one, (fig. 6,) also measuring about five inches in 

 diameter and height. It was inverted, and contained a few 

 burnt bones. Near it was a bone ornament, one inch in 

 length, (fig. 9.) Unfortunately, they were both broken to 

 pieces, being unprotected, and consequently with nothing to in- 

 dicate their presence. Outside the urns, encircling the south 

 side of the barrow, at the radius of seven feet from the centre, 

 were stones of a somewhat larger size set upright, and partly 

 sunk into the native soil. At this side were extensive traces of 

 fire, with a black earth, such as frequently occurs in barrows. 

 At this spot the body was most probably consumed. The side 

 of the large urn was blackened, by the ashes having been placed 

 against it. The remainder of the barrow was carefully examined 

 at considerable labour, but no other deposit was discovered. It 

 had, evidently, never been disturbed since its first formation, 

 which I conceive to have been at no great distance of time after 

 the commencement of the Roman location upon this coast. The 

 urns are essentially British, as is also the mode of sepulture ; 

 but the bronze fibula was probably of Eoman origin, fallen 

 into the possession of another people. 



On the twelfth of November, was commenced the examin- 

 ation of the Afflington Barrow, which is situated about mid 

 way between the last described, and the Afiiington barn upon 

 the Swanage and Kingston road. It is bowl-shaped, 'and mea- 

 •lU'es sixty paces in cucumference, sixty feet in diameter, and 



