[ S^ ] 



and by its fide, near the head, a fmall urn *, or rather bafon, of 

 very rude workmanfhip, made of earth very hard baked, and of 

 a light brown colour. This was a little broken when found, by 

 pieces of the covering (lone falling on it ; but when entire was 

 five inches and a half diameter at the top, two inches at the bot- 

 tom, and four inches and one eighth deep, as is reprefented in 

 Fig. II. with its fi.veral carvings, which though rude are not in a 

 bad tafte, being both in creux and relief. Many of thefe 

 ancient fepulchres are found in different parts of the kingdom, 

 Several of which have been opened, in which have been difco- 

 vered urns with burned bones and allies, fkeletons extended on 

 their backs, and heaps of bones in a confufed and irregular 

 form. See Fig. I. 



In refpedl to the period in which this tomb was eredled, and the 

 perfon to whom it appertained, little can be advanced befides con- 

 je<5ture ; but in whatever age the body was interred, it was appa- 

 rently in a period when cremation began to ceafe, and the mode of 

 interring the body intire began to prevail. The burning of the body 

 after death was univerfal throughout ancient Europe ; and Wor- 

 mius, in Monum. Danic. f tells us, that among tlie northern na- 

 tions the body reduced to allies was placed in an urn, and laid 

 in the earth, over which was raifed a conical mound. The urn 

 was of baked clay, and the mouldings round the rims of fuch 

 as have been difcovered, often fliew a confiderable degree of ele- 

 gance. Numbers of fuch fepulchral m'ns have been difcovered 



* This urn has been lately depofited in the mufeum of the Royal Iriih Academy. 



t " Rudiores ex fola in rotundidatem et conum conjecla." 



Worm, Monum. Daiu 



in 



