Kingston Down Grave 222

Tumulus and grave much as the last. The bones were much decayed; the coffin was much burnt. Near the head was a brass pin [M 6337], about two inches long; it has an eight-square head, and was no doubt an acus crinalis, or discriminalis, that is, a pin for the hair. Here was also a small brass cylinder [M 6336]; in it were two brass needles, gilt; and a small piece of linen cloth, which had served to keep the head or lid of it the tighter on, was found fresh, white, and strong. Another large brass cylinder [M 6340]; this had two small brass chains, one end of each of which was fixed to the cylinder itself, the other to its lid. Here was also a small iron bell [M 6339]; on the loop-hole at the head of it were three or four small brass links, of the same sort of chain as those which were fixed to the larger cylinder. Here were also many small links of a chain, chiefly rusted together, as often before. At the feet were the remains of a wooden box, which seemed to have been about one foot square; with it were found two iron hinges, as at No. 205; and a brass key [M 6338], hanging to a brass ringle,[1] about two inches and a half in diameter: also, about the bottom of the grave, several nails. Certainly a woman's grave. I think it not improper to mention, that this grave had a remarkably fetid smell, as had all the articles taken out of it. A like fetid smell is said to have been perceived by some persons who were employed by Heneage Finch, late Earl of Winchelsea, to dig a trench across the famous prætentura, or bank, in Chilham, called Julaber's Grave. We observed on this day, but never before, that some of the others which we opened had an unusual smell, but none of them anything like so strong a one as this. It thundered and lightened very much all the while we were digging, but at a distance; but about four o'clock, there came on so violent a storm of it, attended with excessive heavy rain, that we were obliged to decamp as fast as we could. Whether or not the ill smell might be occasioned by the vapours rising the more plentifully in such a disposition of the atmosphere, I leave to others to determine: certain it is, however, that we never perceived anything of this sort till this day.[1]Both key and armilla are of Roman fabric.- C.R.S.