Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/303

EXCAVATIONS XEAU THE FLEAM DYKE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 229 .another shaft of considerable size, which had been driven liorizontally towards the centre from the eastern side, accommodating its course to avoid injuring the trees gi-owing on the tumukis. As no deposit was discovered in the whole examination in the eastern side of the mound, though with the exception of this cutting undisturbed, I should imagine that no relics were obtained at the time of its being made. April 16. — No. 7. A small broken vase, in shape as Nos. 1 and 5, three feet from the surface, and eight from western exterior. Contents : burnt human bones. No. 8. Same day. Four feet four inches from surface, ten from western side, a small perfect urn standing upright, without contents. With the exception of another small rude brass coin similar to that mentioned above, and supposed to be of the late Roman period, this closes the list of relics obtained from this remarkable tumulus, of which the following were the dimen- sions previous to commencing ; sixty-seven feet in diameter by one hundred and ninety in circumference. Depth, at greatest elevation, from ten to twelve feet. EXAMINATION OF FOUNDATIONS AT THE BASE OF THE BARROW. On the termination of the works in the mound I proceeded to test the truth of another rumour current in the vicinity, relative to the existence of a foundation contiguous to the base of the tumulus, which evidently arose from portions of mortar and chalk bricks visible in a rabbit-hole adjoining, which held out sufficient hopes of success to induce me to direct my workmen to proceed under the surveillance of Mr. Oldham, to ascertain the direction and extent of the building, if any such existed. This the} accomplished in eight days, and although I consider the remains to be entirely independent of the mound, I am induced to record them in this place. The foundation w^as composed of large bricks shaped from chalk, and appeared to be that of a circular builcUng measuring thirty-five feet across, and three feet in thickness of wall. In the course of digging, the following remains w^ere obtained, chiefly Roman. (Sec wood- cuts here given.) One thick bit of embossed Samian ware ; fragment of granite celt ; one flint ditto ; one bead of green glass ; one skeleton with one ring of bronze ; two bronze VOL. IX. H H