1 6 BARROW-DIGGING AT MARTINSTOWN. 



Bark is attached to the wood, but its structure is badly 

 preserved." 



Between 280 and 2 83 (see Plan), a distance of 3 feet, a black 

 burnt deposit * was observed. It was of unusually fine texture, 

 and appeared to be the remains and ashes of a very complete 

 cremation. This material increased in bulk as the excavation 

 was extended westward from 280. To the west of 2 83 it ceased, 

 and at this point, where the burnt material was most plentiful, 

 three fragments of an ornamental "incense-cup" were dis- 

 covered, which, on being washed, were found to belong to the 

 same vessel, and to fit together. (Fig. 28$, PI. IV.) From the 

 circumstances of the finding it was evident that these pieces had 

 been deposited here as fragments. Other portions of the vessel 

 were eagerly sought for, but without success, and only part of 

 the bottom and side of the " incense-cup " were recovered. The 

 rim was entirely absent, but enough remains to enable us to 

 state that the diameter of the base was about 2f inches. The 

 decoration on the side, consisting of a twisted cord pattern 

 arranged horizontally and crosswise, is of quite a usual character; 

 but the cup is of particular interest from the fact that it is 

 ornamented on the base viz., by triangular punch-marks 

 arranged concentrically. These marks are in the form of 

 isosceles triangles, the apex being deeply indented, whilst the 

 base is represented by the surface of the bottom of the cup. 

 Somewhat similar indentations are seen on a Bronze Age vessel 

 in the Dorset County Museum (No. 93) found in the smaller 

 Clandown Barrow in i882.f Deep triangular indentations are 

 also seen on an urn found in a barrow on the Ridge way Hill in 

 February, 1837 (Hall Collection, Dorset County Museum). 



Near the " incense-cup," and embedded in the burnt material, 

 a small flint flake with well-marked eraillure was found. On the 

 northern side of the enclosure just described nodules of flint 

 were very plentiful, and soon it became apparent that the 



* This has not- yet been examined by an expert microscopist. 

 t Figured in Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot., Vol. XXXVIII., p. 382, No. 54. 



