ROMAN BURIAL CUSTOMS

Evening Star, Issue 19196, 12 March 1926, Page 6

ROMAN BURIAL CUSTOMS

HERTFORDSHIRE DISCOVERY In a field intersected by the prehistoric icknield Way on the, north and the Roman'Stane street on tho west a Roman cemetery has recently been discovered close to tho old market town of Baldock, between Letchworth and Royston, in Hertfordshire. The excavations have been carried out by members of the Letchworth ami District Naturalists’ Society, under tho direction of the lion, curator of Letchworth Museum, Air W. Percival Westell, F.L.S., and it is hoped to er.ntinuo the work in tho spring under the same supervision. Meanwhile, tho objects already found arc on exhibition at Letchworth Museum. The discoveries have boon examined and dated by Mr Reginald A. Smith, F.S.A., deputykeeper of British and, medieval antiquities at the British Museum. The silo was discovered through a deep steam plough bringing many fragments of pottery to the surfam, and inspection soon revealed, resting only a few inches below the surface, a cinerary urn, two beakers, a jug, and a rare form of basin. This group is dated early second century, ami tho subsequent- finds indicate that all tho objects discovered are of the first and second centuries, A. in; but .several skeletons found on tho site suggest that the cemetery was used during tho latter period of inhumation nji to the Into third century. Tho largo food vessels used by tho Romans for cinerary urns in tin's cemetery wore, with feu exceptions, of coarse brown, grey, or yellowish ware, and while the seventeen groups of associated objects so far discovered vary a good deal, in almost every case a jug and a piece of Samian ware (terra sigillnla) howl, cup, dish, or plate were found. Owing to cultivation, it has so far only been possible in tho tmio available to explore a plot measuring 30yds by 12yds, but in this portion alone—the soil being loam and gravel overlying chalk—over 120 vessels in a good" state of preservation and ling, ments of over 200 other vessels, all more or less typical of tho complete ones, have been found. The depths at which the cremated burials wore found varied_ from loin to 4ft. Most of the associated burial groups were 2ft din to _3ft below tho surface, the objects being placed in pockets made ;n the chalk, and wore found at a distance of some Sit apart. The skeletons were at a dentil of three to four feet, and, with three exceptions, no associated objects were leuud with these. Tho exceptions were one skeleton, with which a, coin of Domitian, a. n. 81-96, was discovered; the skeleton of a young girl, with whom a small red vessel called a lazza, iiid a snake bracelet were found; and a skeleton with a perfect decorated beaker of New Forest ware of the late third century was associated. The objects forming each group wore found placed as close together as possible, touching each other, overlapping, or superimposed, and inside one urn four small vessels were found among the cremated remains.

At least thirty-three distinct types of pottery have already been found on the site. With the inhumations flatheaded coflin nails were almost Invariably found, and the skeletons were placed with the fec-t mostly pointing to the east, although some of the others pointed to the- north. Most ol the bodies were buried at full length, hut a few were in a cramped position, and in these inhumation burials the Roman undertaker had badly broken any previous cremation burial gioups that happened to ho in the way.