264 



NOTES ON THE BRITISH REMAINS FOUND NEAR 

 THE CAWTHORN CAMPS, YORKSHIRE. 



J. R. MORTIMER, 



Driffield. 



Several of the barrows near the camps were opened by the late 

 Thos. Kendall, of Pickering-, and the late Jas. Ruddock between 

 1849 and 1853. A description of the latter gentleman's excava- 

 tions is g-iven in ' Ten Years' Diggings in Celtic and Saxon 

 Grave Hills,' by Thos. Bateman, p. 206. 



On the 26th of November 1849 a large barrow was opened 

 near Cawthorn Camps, 65 yards in circumference and 7 feet in 

 elevation, composed of sand, burnt clay, and limestone rubble. 

 At the centre was a grave 15 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 11 feet 

 deep. At the bottom were two skeletons lying at length, with 

 their heads pointing respectively east and west. At the right 

 side of one lay a spear-head of flint 2}4 inches long, and at the 

 same side of the other was a bronze dagger, 4^2 inches long. 



Another very interesting barrow, situated near, was next 

 opened. In the centre was part of a complete circle, 7 yards in 

 diameter, of flat stones standing on edge, about 2 feet above 

 the natural level, and enclosing a grave 5 feet by 4 feet and 

 3 feet deep, containing a contracted skeleton with head to the 

 south. Close to the skull was a small vase. 



Other mounds in this immediate neighbourhood were opened 

 by Mr. Ruddock, with varying results. 



The notes of the late Mr. Kendall's excavations have not tO' 

 my knowledge been put in print. This is much to be regretted. 

 Some little, however, is known of Mr. Kendall's discoveries. 



Dr. J. B. Davis, in referring to the colour of the hair of the 

 Ancient Britons, writes in 'Crania Britannica' as follows: — 

 'In a British barrow of the extensive series of the eastern moors 

 of Yorkshire, which present such proof of a Brigantian popula- 

 tion, opened by Mr. Kendall a few years ago [1849 to 1853], 

 human hair was discovered which had been formed into a 

 personal ornament. The excavation first exposed a British urn 

 in an inverted position. When this was lifted up, it was found 

 to cover a small vase placed upright, round the foot of whicli 

 la}^, upon the bottom of the cist, a beautiful chaplet of light 

 auburn hair. This pledge of aff"ection was quite perfect when 

 first exposed, and had been carefully braided in four plaits, 

 fragments of which are still preserved. 



Naturalist, 



