Page:VCH Bedfordshire 1.djvu/233

ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS very similar to an example found in an Anglian grave at Kenninghall, Norfolk. 1 Four swords of the usual two-edged type were found in the cemetery, one near the surface and the others in separate graves. They were originally about 3 feet in length, and one lay on the left side of Badge, a Fish, Kt the skeleton between the arm and the body, reaching 2 or 3 inches below the knee ; in the same grave, 5 feet deep, was also a small bucket with bronze hoops and iron handle. Though now in poor preservation, this clearly belongs to the same class as others in the British Museum from Hampshire, Berkshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and North- amptonshire, and perhaps served the same purpose as the small vases placed in the graves. The iron spearheads seem to have been at the right or left of the skull indifferently, and one at least had the blades alternately depressed in a manner common at that period. 2 In two graves of men were found what appeared to be girdle-knives but without a cutting edge. These were perhaps made specially for funeral purposes, and may be compared with one from Lewes, and another found in a cinerary urn at Long Wittenham, Berks. 3 In 1856, some years before the exploration of the cemetery described above, a relic of remark- able rarity was found at Kemps- ton, and described by Mr. James Wyatt.* In digging for gravel, perhaps in the same field, the labourers came upon remains of several human skeletons, and among them an iron spearhead, shield-boss and an earthenware urn (see fig.) of a peculiar character. Its shape is distinctive, the body being deeply fluted at intervals and the shoulder ornamented with groups 1 The fish occurs as a decorative motive on a jewel from Hardingstone (V.C.H. Northanti, i. 133, fig. 1 on plate), and on a buckle from Crundale, Kent, in the British Museum. 2 Several of this kind have been published, and four were recently found in a cemetery at Drox- ford, Hants. 3 Arch, xxxviii. 333, 342. * Coll. Antiq. iv. 159. It is now preserved in the Library at Bedford. 183 Vase with Glass Disc, Kempston. (i si")