33 



sword, and those peculiar buckets fouud only in Saxon 

 grave mounds, and the bractates hereafter mentioned. 



There appear to have been many umbos found, and though 

 not uniform in shape or weight, partake of the usual 

 character of these hand guards, or bosses which formed the 

 centre of the Saxon war boards or shields. When compared 

 with those found at Marton a few years ago when the 

 Leamington and Rugby Railway was made, they are found 

 to be heavier, tallei", and more varied in shape. One was 

 surmounted by a spike or spear head, others had a flat disc 

 or button terminal, whilst on others it was round, and in the 

 disc-headed umbo the point of the long heavy sword was 

 found. Several of these umbos were found with the rivets 

 which attached them to the "linden wood" of which the 

 shield was generally formed, and in more than one instance 

 the handle or brace of the shield was found below the umbo. 

 In none of the skeletons was the shield found in any regular 

 position with respect to the body, and in one instance the 

 largest of these bosses was placed above the skull as if it 

 had formed pai-t of a helmet. 



I was requested by Mr. Staunton, of Longbridge, the 

 owner of the field and Lord of the Manor, who was from 

 home at the time, to take charge of the remains, and by the 

 assistance of Mr. Pritchard, the Borough Engineer, I 

 obtained a plan of the locality, and was enabled to watch 

 the progress of the excavations more narrowly. This closer 

 inspection and search revealed what I have ventured to call 

 a Saxon Lady's Grave. This was situated on the highest 

 part of the bank, east of the larger excavations. It was 

 impossible to ascertain the size and dimensions of the grave 

 exactly, but as far as it was possible to judge by the dis- 

 turbed earth, this lady of the past was not more than five 



