228 On a Sepulchral Vessel found near Marlborough. 



small portion of a hoop in the British Museum, which, from the style 

 of the worked bronze, is considered to be of late Celtic period. (4) 

 Saxon buckets have one handle only, arched over the top, as in modern 

 examples, whilst that which we are describing- has two well-formed 

 handles, one on each side. (5) Our specimen, too, is remarkable for 

 the curious though somewhat cumbrous contrivance by which the 

 hollow bar is used for securing the lid. 



The circumstances narrated by Hoare, the great number of Roman 

 coins and other works of art and the numerous skeletons discovered, 

 seem clearly to prove that the Romans occupied " St. Margaret's 

 Mead/' and it was apparently used for sepulchral purposes by the 

 inhabitants of their adjoining stations, Upper, and Lower Cunetio. 

 The locality is so decidedly Roman, so surrounded by Roman remains 

 on every side, that the finding of this funereal vessel on the spot 

 would at once lead to the conclusion that it was of Roman work- 

 manship. It is true that no other example is known, in this 

 country at least, of the interment of the ashes of the dead in a 

 similar bucket-shaped vessel ; but the modes of burial adopted by 

 the Romans were very varied. This has been exemplified in Wilt- 

 shire by Mr. Poulett Scrope's discoveries at North Wraxhall 

 [Wiltshire Magazine, vol. vii., p. 69). It would appear that the 

 common people were generally interred with little ceremony, whilst 

 careful cremation and more elaborate forms of burial were practised 

 at the death of persons of rank or distinction. On the other hand 

 it is considered by some of our best antiquaries that the style of 

 the ornamentation is distinct from Roman, and still more distinct from 

 Saxon art, and that it should rather be referred to a late Celtic period. 1 

 London, March, 1887. 



1 Dr. John Evans suggested that this relic should be referred to a late Celtic 

 period, and Mr. A. W. Franks strongly supports this view, which has been 

 further confirmed by an examination of the fine series of Celtic remains which he 

 has presented to the nation : amongst these we would especially mention two 

 large bronze shields belonging to this period, worthy in beauty of design and 

 finish to rank amongst the works of art of any time or nation. We would 

 express sincere thanks to Mr. Franks for his courtesy in affording opportunities 

 for the examination of the Saxon vessels under his charge, and for the kind 

 interest he has taken in the subject. 



