RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCO VEBIES IN CORNWALL. 205 



has recorded* the finding of something which may perhaps have 

 been a cup of this class. Figuring a large urn, very much like 

 those we have been describing, he states that it was found in the 

 Cheesewring district, and contained ashes, calcined human bones, 

 and "in the centre a smaller vessel described as resembling a 

 a plate with a hole in the centre and a raised rim, supported on 

 four little legs or pillars, no portion of which was preserved." 

 Probably it was an "incense cup" which had lost its base, so 

 that its brim enclosed merely the open hollow, whilst the support- 

 ing legs were but portions of the sides which had extended 

 downwards between perforations. 



Such cups as the one found in the Harlyn urn, have been 

 occasionally discovered in districts out of Cornwall ; many are 

 known, but the purpose for which they were formed is doubtful. 



Jewitt figures 12 of them, and observes : — " When found at 

 all (which is seldom) they are inside urns, on or among the 

 calcined bones, and frequently filled with them. They range 

 from 1J inches to 3 inches in height, and are sometimes 

 highly ornamented." 



Thurnam shews 23 examples in one of his accounts, and 

 after describing some with handles and others with . numerous 

 openings, he remarks : — " Notwithstanding exceptions, the 

 general rule is to have two holes on one side only." This is the 

 case in the instance before us. 



The material, design, and surrounding associations of these 

 cups, shew them to have been of some funereal or sepulchral 

 use. The perforations scarcely seem to have been made for 

 their suspension, moreover if a short handle had been needed it 

 would probably have been formed of clay, as were those on the 

 urn, and a long handle would not have required two small holes 

 for its attachment, since one opening of fair size would have 

 admitted the end of a stick to serve for such a purpose. 



The little vessels are called " incense cups," for the sake of 

 convenience, because some of them are so much pierced that 

 they cannot hold more than a few drops of liquid, but would 

 afford good ventilation to a burning substance such as a pastile 

 or a mass of leaves, or spices placed within them ; but whether 



*Plymouth Institution Eeport, 1888, Vol. x, p. 244. 



