< Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu
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228 EXCAVATIONS NEAR THE FLEAM DYKE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

No. 1. ; a small and exceedingly rude specimen of the sunbaked pottery, resembling those frequently taken from the large Wiltshire tumuli ; when found it was full of burnt ashes, apparently of some plant ; it was removed entire, and is now in my collection ; by the assistance of the faithfiil pencil of Mr. J. M. Youngman of Saffron Walden, I am enabled to lay before the Society representations of it, and of the others from the same site, which will supply a most accurate notion of the originals. April 13. — Urn No. 2. Fifteen feet from the western exterior, and two from the surface of the mound of the same material, but larger than preceding, finished with shelving rims. Contents : burnt human bones enveloped in a cloth, which, on looking into the vessel, gave them the appearance of being viewed through a yellow gauze veil, but wdiich upon being touched dissolved into fine powder. This, as well as No. 1., was not inverted ; they were interred upright on their bottoms. No. 3. Same day. — Thirteen feet from western exterior, three from the surface, had apparently been crushed at interment. Contents : burnt human bones, with similar vestiges of cloth as before ; the rim only could be restored, which however proves it to have been of extraordinary size, being two feet in diameter. This is not drawn. No. 4. Same day ; two feet from the surface, sixteen from the western exterior ; of similar form and material, and smaller than Nos. 2 and 3, though larger than No. 1. Removed entire. Contents : a few bones, apparently of a very young person, without any traces of cloth. This day the cutting at the centre of the hill was more than six feet. April 14. — Urn No. 5. Two feet from the surface, and six from the south-west extremity, without any contents. No. 6. Same day. Sixteen feet deep, ten from the outside, in fragments. Contents : burnt human bones ; cutting this day exceeded eight feet, and three feet from the west side a large heap of burnt human bones was exposed, with palpable vestiges of cloth as before ; after this, on the top, we broke into evident traces of a shaft, which seemed to have been sunk perpendicularly, but proved to be of small extent. April 15, — About six feet from the western exterior, and two from the surface, we laid bare another heap of bones, witliout any relic. This day the workmen broke into

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