A HISTORY OF KENT which were also the remains of a cinerary urn, no doubt of the early Roman period, and disturbed when the grave was dug. Garnets of different shape, but similarly set in gold, were found in another grave, with glass phials at the feet, and amethyst beads of the usual kind, the last being noticed in three instances on this site. The only other glass found was at the feet of a child ; but besides that already mentioned there were one or two other cinerary urns of an earlier date, a few earthenware bottles of the ordinary Kentish pattern, and one Roman flask, of white ware containing three bronze coins, one being of Con- stantine the Great (d. 337), and another of Theodosius (d. 395), while the last, according to Roach Smith, belonged to a Gothic king of the time of Justinian (d. 566). The pilum, in two cases compared to an arrow, lay indifferently on the right or left in nine interments. One spear was found, on the right, and in another grave one sword with a shield. About half a mile from the village of Sibertswold (Shepherd's Well) there existed in 1772 a cluster of grave-mounds' lying between the road to Sandwich and that leading from Barham over Snow Down. There were two smaller groups in the immediate vicinity, and as many as 180 graves were opened by Faussett ^ in that and the following years, all except six being surmounted by mounds of various dimensions. In ninety-nine cases the wooden coffin, which was at times very thick, had been submitted to fire ; but in eight cases this ceremony or practice had been omitted, and in thirty-four graves with no traces of a coffin an almost complete absence of relics was noticed. All the bodies were themselves unburnt, and had been buried with the head at the west end except in five instances ; and of these four had the feet at the north end and one at the west. Ten mounds, at least, covered each more than a single interment, and in two cases cremated remains of an earlier period had been disturbed in digging the grave. The graves of men contained more than the usual number of weapons. About twenty lances of the smaller kind (called p'lla by the excavator) were found on the right or left side of the body indifferently, in three cases reversed, and in eight accompanied by a shield of which little but the iron boss ' remained, though the wood-work had evidently been inch thick. The hasta (or spear) was, however, more frequently on the right side of the body. With eight of them had been associated the shield, and in one case there was a sword, one also being found with a lance, three others being found without either. Two sword-knives were discovered, one being 20 inches long, and one dagger, or short sword, associated with a shield, had a pommel of cocked-hat shape.* Six rude vases of black pottery were found, usually placed at the feet of women, while two graves had vessels of coarse red ware, and one an earthenware bottle of the usual Kentish pattern. « A plan is given by Douglas, AV«. Brit. pi. xxiii. ' Inv. Sep. pp. 101-34. ' One, from grave 81, is figured in Horae Ferula, pi. xxvii. fig. 22. • Inv. Sep. p. 132.
