Barfrestone Grave 25

Middle-sized tumulus. The bones were almost gone; the coffin had passed the fire. The head of a small pilum, or of an arrow, lay on the left side of the head; about the middle of the grave was a bit of a very thin urn of green glass, broken, I suppose, when this tumulus was raised; also a small brass buckle and shank [M 6600]; and the blade of a knife: at the feet was a narrow-necked urn of whitish earth [M 6595], capable of containing about three pints. In it were three copper Roman coins, namely, one of the Emperor Constantine the Great, with this legend on the reverse, SOLI INVICTO COMITI.; another of Theodosius the Great, with REPARATIO REIPVB. on the reverse; the third had the head of Rome, with INVICTA. ROMA. on one side, and an eagle on its reverse. This last is of the middle size,[1] and the former of the third size; they are all of them very common coins: the grave was about three feet deep.[1]This coin belongs to the Gothic kings of the time of Justinian; and is here of the first importance towards determining the date of the interments. - B.F.