Iteaien Coffin founfc at Cann, near 

 Jrtjaftestwrp* 



By H. St. GEORGE GRAY. 



(Read 20th Feb., 1917). 



HE subject of this paper has reference to an in- 

 teresting coffin of lead found in April, 1916, in 

 the parish of Cann, near Shaftesbury, which I 

 had not the opportunity of seeing till the follow- 

 ing October 26th. I had, however, previously 

 received correspondence on the subject and 

 secured a photograph of the coffin taken 

 by Miss Constance Palmer, of the Rectory, 

 Tollard Royal, which by her kindness is here reproduced. 



The coffin was found in the limekiln field (field No. 1), 

 Ponsonby Farm, Cann, about 2J miles S.E. of Shaftesbury. 

 This farm is owned by Mr. John Jeans (now of Bournemouth) 

 and tenanted by his son-in-law, Mr. John H. Drew ; the coffin 

 was discovered by a quarryman, named Walter Coombes (of 

 Cann Common). In this field surf ace -quarrying is in progress 

 for the purpose of obtaining stone (the local Upper Greensand 

 formation) for the roads, and the coffin was found at a depth 

 of 3J feet below the surface of the almost flat field. 



Nobody interested in the archaeological significance of 

 the discovery was on the spot at the time, and the workmen, 

 it is understood, sent for the police, who removed the lid 



