ON THE BRITISH ANTIQUITIES OP WARWICKSHIRE. 189 



and underwood, but no trees were growing on the summit, and a 

 sufficient space was soon cleared for the intended operation. The 

 process of excavating was commenced on the east side, and a section 

 of about six feet in width was first made, which width was gradu- 

 ally increased as the work proceeded onwards. This section was 

 carried two-thirds through the barrow, at the summit, so that when 

 the excavation was completed, it presented the appearance of a pit 

 nearly oval in shape, fourteen feet in length by ten in width, gra- 

 dually decreasing to eight feet in width at the bottom. 



At the distance of two feet from the surface, on the east side, 

 we found a small spear-head of iron, and shortly afterwards some 

 bones, and the iron boss or umbo of a shield ; these, I am inclined 

 to think, were the arms and interment of some Romanized Briton 

 of the third or fourth century after Christ, possibly of some native 

 auxiliary serving with the Roman forces then stationed at Oldbury. 



On approaching the centre of the barrow, indications of a cairn, 

 or heap of loose stones, became apparent, the apex of which reached 

 to within eighteen inches of the surface ; the superincumbent earth 

 being taken off, this cairn was gradually removed, and underneath, 

 at the depth of between six and seven feet, two sepulchral urns 

 were discovered, each deposited, with the mouth downwards, in a 

 cist of rough stones carefully constructed about it. These were 

 accompanied by two smaller vases, or drinking-cups ; but, from the 

 perishable, half-burnt materials of which the urns and cups were 

 composed, nothing but fragments could be obtained, although the 

 greatest care was taken in their removal. Near to these lay the blade 

 of a small brazen dagger or knife, which had a rivet or pin at the 

 lower extremity, for the purpose of securing it to the haft. A 

 number of nuts were also found at this depth, which seemed to have 

 been placed as part of the funeral viaticum ; two small chippings of 

 flint were also found. These were probably clipped off of some 

 arrow head or celt, and such may possibly have been thrown out 

 unawares in the rubbish, or else escaped our observation. 



Notwithstanding the discovery of these urns, the excavation was 

 continued still deeper, the natural soil not having been reached ; 

 and at the depth of about eight feet from the surface, a third sepul- 

 chral urn was found, deposited, like the former, in a rude cist of 

 stones, with the mouth downwards over the burnt bones ; close to 

 this was a drinking-cup lying, with respect to the urn, in a singular 

 oblique position, with the mouth inclining downwards. This was 

 the only article of pottery that could be got out tolerably perfect ; 

 for, in attempting to remove the urn, it broke to pieces, but the 



