185 



HUTTON-CRANSWICK. 



The tumulus is situated in a tilled field, the property of the 

 Rev. R. Rigby, about half a mile from Hutton Cranswick, and 

 adjoining the high road to Skeme, and the sea coast. It covers 

 about half an acre of ground, but its height has been con- 

 siderably diminished by tillage, and the same cause has removed 

 all indication of a vallum, if one existed at any time. 



The examination was commenced on the top, in the centre of 

 the barrow, and about two feet below the surface indications 

 of interment presented themselves, shown by layers of dark 

 carbonaceous earth, mixed with portions of incinerated bones, 

 which were almost all if not entirely human ; imbedded in this 

 earth was a small urn about 2J inches in depth, and diameter 

 of the mouth and base being nearly the same, viz., 2^ inches, 

 tolerably thick, and in shape resembling somewhat a poppy 

 head, and composed of sun-dried clay of rude manufacture. It 

 is an example of the incense cup, and perforated with four 

 rows of small holes, which have passed from the exterior to the 

 interior, though some are now blocked up with sand, &c. This 

 cup is in a very good state of preservation, and was placed with 

 its mouth upwards, containing burnt human bones mixed with 

 charcoal and sand, of which the tumulus is composed. After 

 passing through other layers of bones and carbonaceous matter 

 for about a foot, portions of another large urn were discovered, 

 but not sufficient in quantity to give a just and correct idea of 

 its shape and dimensions ; near some of the portions was a tusk, 

 perforated through the centre as though for suspension, proba- 

 bly as a personal ornament. A little deeper than these relics a 

 large and beautiful specimen of the rude, early unbaked sepul- 

 chral urn was reached, placed with its mouth upwards ; in 

 removal it was unfortunately much damaged : the dimensions 

 9^ inches diameter of the mouth, and 13^ inches in depth. In 

 it was found a small singular vessel of clay, devoid of ornament 

 and roughly made ; it measures across the mouth, which is 

 circular, 1 inch, and is f of an inch in depth. It is extremely 

 probable that the portions of broken pottery were, when entire, 

 the dish in which the large sepulchral urn was placed ; imder 



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