110 Discovery of Two Graves cut in the solid Chalk Rock. 



and the nave of the Church being" parallel, that to the east having 

 a very decided inclination northward, so decided as to lead one 

 to suppose it could hardly be accidental. We find too that the 

 horizontal line of this grave points directly to the altar. It is 

 also noticeable that by the compass this grave, is as nearly as 

 possible, east and west. The bones of the skeletons were found in 

 situ. The skull in the longer grave seemed to possess no remark- 

 able features, and was somewhat damaged by the workmen, but it 

 probably belonged to a man of unusual stature, as the size of the 

 skeleton corresponds with the size of the cavity (6 feet 9 inches), 

 and no coffin would have been used. The skull from the other grave, 

 however, appeared of unusual interest, and it was forwarded to 

 Professor Rolleston,to describe and measure. This he has kindly done, 

 and his highly interesting notice of the points of this skull is appen- 

 ded. The grave is only 5 feet 9 inches in length, so that the possessor 

 of this remarkable skull could hardly have been of the average 

 height. In the absence of more reliable data it is difficult to assign 

 a date for these graves but what is very problematical, still we have 

 these considerations:—^.) there is the similarity between the Broad 

 Hinton rock graves and the stone coffins in use, as Walcott informs 

 us, in the tenth and two following centuries, with their circular 

 head cavities and the greater width at the shoulder than at the foot ; 

 (ii.) if the position of this eastern grave be intentionally directed to 

 point to the high altar, it is clear that the altar must have been 

 there at the time the grave was made. Saxon remains of a former 

 Church have been found and the present nave stands, as I believe, 

 upon Saxon foundations. Eastward of the chancel arch, however, we 

 come upon no foundations to indicate the size and form of an earlier 

 apse or other termination to the building — no doubt because of the 

 many vaults which undermine the chancel and have disturbed the 

 ground. The present position of the high altar may be given as 

 about A.D. 1220, and this gives a date for the grave in question sub- 

 sequent to the beginning of the thirteenth century, (iii.) Possibly 

 it might have been the resting-place of an ecclesiastic — monks were 

 ordered to be buried in stone coffins by Abbot Warin, of St. Albans, 

 1183 — 95 (see Walcott) — and the custom of burying a parish priest 



