A HISTORY OF KENT 



which were also the remains of a cinerary urn, no doubt of the early 

 Roman period, and disturbed when the grave was dug. Garnets of 

 different shape, but similarly set in gold, were found in another grave, 

 with glass phials at the feet, and amethyst beads of the usual kind, the 

 last being noticed in three instances on this site. The only other glass 

 found was at the feet of a child ; but besides that already mentioned 

 there were one or two other cinerary urns of an earlier date, a few 

 earthenware bottles of the ordinary Kentish pattern, and one Roman 

 flask, of white ware containing three bronze coins, one being of Con- 

 stantine the Great (d. 337), and another of Theodosius (d. 395), while 

 the last, according to Roach Smith, belonged to a Gothic king of the 

 time of Justinian (d. 566). The pilum, in two cases compared to an 

 arrow, lay indifferently on the right or left in nine interments. One 

 spear was found, on the right, and in another grave one sword with a 

 shield. 



About half a mile from the village of Sibertswold (Shepherd's 

 Well) there existed in 1772 a cluster of grave-mounds' lying between 

 the road to Sandwich and that leading from Barham over Snow Down. 

 There were two smaller groups in the immediate vicinity, and as many 

 as 180 graves were opened by Faussett ^ in that and the following years, 

 all except six being surmounted by mounds of various dimensions. In 

 ninety-nine cases the wooden coffin, which was at times very thick, had 

 been submitted to fire ; but in eight cases this ceremony or practice had 

 been omitted, and in thirty-four graves with no traces of a coffin an 

 almost complete absence of relics was noticed. All the bodies were 

 themselves unburnt, and had been buried with the head at the west end 

 except in five instances ; and of these four had the feet at the north end 

 and one at the west. Ten mounds, at least, covered each more than a 

 single interment, and in two cases cremated remains of an earlier period 

 had been disturbed in digging the grave. The graves of men contained 

 more than the usual number of weapons. About twenty lances of the 

 smaller kind (called p'lla by the excavator) were found on the right or 

 left side of the body indifferently, in three cases reversed, and in eight 

 accompanied by a shield of which little but the iron boss ' remained, 

 though the wood-work had evidently been \ inch thick. The hasta (or 

 spear) was, however, more frequently on the right side of the body. 

 With eight of them had been associated the shield, and in one case 

 there was a sword, one also being found with a lance, three others 

 being found without either. Two sword-knives were discovered, one 

 being 20 inches long, and one dagger, or short sword, associated with a 

 shield, had a pommel of cocked-hat shape.* Six rude vases of black 

 pottery were found, usually placed at the feet of women, while two 

 graves had vessels of coarse red ware, and one an earthenware bottle of 

 the usual Kentish pattern. 



« A plan is given by Douglas, AV«. Brit. pi. xxiii. ' Inv. Sep. pp. 101-34. 



' One, from grave 81, is figured in Horae Ferula, pi. xxvii. fig. 22. 

 • Inv. Sep. p. 132. 



