158 REPORT ON THE STAPENHILL EXPLORATIONS. 
A reference to the shaded portion of the Index plan (Plate II.) 
shows the exact position of the site, whilst Plate III., the plan 
of the site, shows the positions of the different finds and the 
directions in which the various bodies lay. 
ORIGIN OF THE DiscoveERy.—On the 1st of February, 1881, 
as some workmen were getting out clay for brickmaking in Mr. 
Chamberlain’s portion of the field, they suddenly struck across 
two earthenware pots of large size, one of which was more or less 
fractured. Unfortunately, but a few fragments of either of these 
have been preserved, as they were broken to pieces by the 
workmen in the vain hope of finding gold therein; judging, 
however, from the fragments which are now in the Society's 
museum, these vessels must have been of large size, and were very 
beautifully ornamented. Some burnt bones were enclosed in one 
if not in both of them, and there is now little doubt but that both 
of these vessels were cinerary urns of the Pagan Saxon period. 
Photographs of some of the pieces are shown on Plate VI., Figs. 
8 and g. Near these urns was also found an iron javelin head, 
6 inches in length (Plate VIII., Fig. 17). 
ACTION TAKEN BY THE SocietTy.—Shortly after finding these 
urns, the workmen came upon the remains of at least two bodies 
lying full length ; near the head of one of them was an iron spear 
head, eleven inches in length (Plate VIII., Fig. 22). Later on 
three or more bodies were unearthed ; Mr. Chamberlain being 
present when these remains were discovered, and seeing that a 
careful investigation would probably lead to some very interesting 
results, at once put a stop to any further excavations in that 
portion of the field by the brickmakers, very promptly and 
thoughtfully communicated the facts thus brought to light to our 
Society, and most freely and cordially gave the Society permission 
to carry on any explorations they might choose to make in his 
brickfield ; whilst at the same time Mr. Ballard kindly accorded 
permission to the Society to explore his ground as well. 
Accordingly, a Provisional Committee, consisting of Messrs. W. 
Boden, W. Canning, S. Evershed, F. E. Lott, G R. Strachan, 
R. Thornewill, C. U. Tripp, T. N. Whitehead, with C. Perks 
