A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 



of London ' a valuable account of his observations. The large urn, into 

 which the horse had stepped, was found to be an unusually fine 

 specimen measuring 17 inches in height, and having a broad and pro- 

 nounced band, or rim, round the upper part. This urn, it was found, 

 had unfortunately been much damaged by the horse ; the bottom was 

 broken through, and much of the contents, consisting chiefly of calcined 

 human bones, had been dispersed. 



The operation of excavating the larger urn led to the discovery of 

 a smaller urn, turned bottom upwards, resting on the shoulder of the 

 larger specimen. The smaller urn contained powder of whitish colour, 

 among which the following substances were identified : (i) chalk, 

 (2) flints, (3) wood charcoal, (4) spiculse of bones, (5) white flocculent 

 matter, which dissolved completely in diluted hydrochloric acid, and (6) 

 carbonate of lime. 



In the larger urn, which it should be mentioned was in an inverted 

 position, was found a charming example of those little earthen vessels 

 to which the somewhat hypothetical name of incense-cup has been 



given. There is a certain character 

 about the ornamentation of this 

 example which gives it a special 

 archaeological interest, although it 

 does not, perhaps, contribute any- 

 thing towards the solution of the 

 purpose which so-called ' incense- 

 cups ' served. 



The smaller of the two urns 

 measured 7^ inches in height, and 



INCENSE CUP FOUND AT WYCOMBE MARSH. was regarded by the finder as a 



miniature cinerary urn rather than 



a food vessel or drinking cup. Like the larger urn it has a broad, 

 well pronounced, and flat rim. 



The use to which the so-called incense-cups were put is a ques- 

 tion which still awaits a satisfactory explanation. The popular name 

 given them is not quite satisfactory, because the openings usually found 

 in the sides would not be suitable for censing purposes ; it is difficult to 

 understand how such vessels could hold incense. Another, possibly 

 more plausible, explanation is that they were vessels used to convey some 

 inflammable substance for the kindling of the funereal fire. The interest- 

 ing point about the Wycombe Marsh ' incense-cup ' is that the holes do 

 not entirely pierce through the sides, leading to the conclusion that they 

 represent a tradition which had become meaningless. 



Some other rather interesting pieces of pottery of the bronze age 

 found in Buckinghamshire, and now in the British Museum collection, 

 were found during some explorations of circular hut floors at Hitcham. 

 These consisted of three drinking cups, one of which is decorated by no 



1 Proceedings, 2nd series, vol. xii. pp. 338-346 ; also Records of Buckinghamshire, vol. vi. pp. 259, 

 260. 



182 



