Ancient Crematorium.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 458, 20 May 1932, Page 6

Ancient Crematorium.

P RE-HISTORIC crematorium, once used by men and women who roamed the Surrey downs, has been found at Burrows Cross, near Peaslake, -England. It has been excavated by Mr S. E. Winbolt and Mr G. H. Grinling, and in it were found the blackened bones of a woman and a child, considered to have been about fourteen years, of age. The archaeologists have excavated two trenches about twenty feet long and four feet across. Originally, thes£ trenches were probably about four feet deep. Big stones form walls and a floor, which curves slightly towards the centre. Bodies were cremated in the middle of the trench. Then they were sealed down by a second layer of stones. This layer formed another floor, on which new cremations took place. Finally, the trench Was filled with sand. Half-cremated human bones were found at one end of one of the trenches. All the other bones must have been completely destroyed, for the heat was so terrific that great masses of charcoal and big sandstones, burnt right through, can still be seen. No pottery was found, and there is no evidence to enable archaeologists to decide at what date this crematorium was in use. Apparently the crematorium was for communal use.