A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 



The mound or barrow was 30 yards from the west end of the old 

 church, and exists to this day almost in its original form. The trunk of 

 an ancient yew tree, with a girth of over 20 feet, still stood on the sum- 

 mit when excavations were undertaken in October 1883 at the instance 

 of Mr. James Rutland, who was assisted in the work by the late Dr. 

 Joseph Stevens of Reading, who presented an illustrated report to the 

 British Archaeological Association ; by the late Major Cooper King of 

 Sandhurst, who prepared a plan of the interment ; and by Mr. Walter 

 Money, F.S.A., of Newbury. The present account is mainly derived 

 from the unpublished manuscript of Mr. Rutland, who however related 

 most of the particulars to the Maidenhead Naturalists' Field Club in 

 1884, and also to the Society of Antiquaries of London. 1 Before the 

 excavation began, measurements were taken, and the barrow was found 

 to be roughly circular, about 240 feet in circumference at the base, and 

 80 feet in diameter ; while the flat top was 1 5 feet above the level of the 

 churchyard and had a diameter of 20 feet. A start was made at the 

 southern end, from which a cutting was directed towards the centre ; 

 other openings were then made from the north and west, and a tunnel 

 driven below the yew tree which subsequently collapsed. Among the 

 roots between 2 and 3 feet from the top of the mound were found 

 several pieces of dressed chalk that may well have formed part of a door 

 or window in the Norman church, and been buried in the mound when 

 that structure was restored or rebuilt in the fourteenth century. 



The cuttings disclosed several irregular layers of black earth alter- 

 nating with red sand and gravel ; and the numerous relics of human 

 workmanship proved that the entire mound had been thrown up by man, 

 though perhaps not all on one occasion. The upper layers contained 

 fragments of coarse pottery, bones and bone tools, hammer-stones and 

 flint flakes, cores and scrapers, all irregularly dispersed throughout the 

 mass ; while about 1 2 feet down, in the western shaft, was found a pair 

 of bronze tweezers, perhaps of Roman date. At the bottom of the ex- 

 cavation occurred a fragment of ' Samian ' ware and part of a brick, both 

 undoubtedly of Roman origin. 



These remains of the civilization that prevailed in Britain during 

 the first four centures of our era would no doubt be lying on or near the 

 surface of the soil at the time the mound was thrown up ; while relics of 

 a ruder age would be naturally included in the material taken from a 

 lower level to form the upper part of the mound. Latest of all was the 

 interment over which this imposing monument was raised, and a detailed 

 account of the principal discovery may now be proceeded with. The ex- 

 cavation had reached a depth of 20 feet from the summit, when several 

 strands of gold thread were discovered. These had been woven into 

 braid with a diamond pattern, and to judge from previous discoveries of 

 the same kind in Kent and the Isle of Wight, were sufficient indication 



1 Proc. Soc. Ant. x. 19. Other notices of the discovery are in the Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. xxxix. 

 431 ; xl. 6 1 ; Antlq. Magazine & Bibliographer, Jan. 1884, p. 14 ; Times, 6 Nov. 1883 ; Illustrated 

 London News, 17 Dec. 1883 ; Pictorial World, 27 Dec. 1883. 



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