96 ANGLO-SAXON CEMETERY ON LINTON HEATH.

tlirougli tlie tumulus into the natural soil (chalk), which suggests the idea that the burials are not those of the tribe bv ^Yhich the mound ^vas raised. So many interments, from their character evidently not the results of a battle, could hardly have been made so nearly at the same time as to lead to the formation of the tunudus. This remark applies to nearly all the graves, and is conlirmcd by some of the rehques discovered subsequently. No. 2. — 3i feet deep. An iron spear ^vas found lying at the head ; a bow-shaped bronze fibula lay near the skull. Length of tlie spear, including socket, 9|- inches ; the socket has an open slit at the side, and is 4^ inches in length. The blade l;ince-shaped, tapering from 1 inch at the base to ^ of an inch at the point : length of fibula, If inches ; it has a bronze acus, now broken. This fibula deserves notice, as being of a distinctly Roman type, and it bears resemblance to that found at Wilbraham, figured in plate 9, No. 11, " Saxon Obsequies." Jmiuary 4. No. 3. — 3 feet G inches deep. No reliques found with the deposit. No. 4. — 4 feet deep. A ring of bronze 1 inch in diameter ; not a finger ring. January 5. No. 5. — 3 feet 6 inches deep, nothing found with the deposit. No. 6. — 5 feet G inches deep. Nothing found with the deposit. The bones in all the graves above enumerated were very much decayed. No. 7. — 4 feet deep. An iron boss of a shield in frag- ments; one iron spear 12 ^ inches long, with open-slit socket and remains of wooden haft Avithin it ; len<j;th of blade, G-^ inches ; width, If inches at base, inch at })oint ; this lay by the head. An iron knife ; blade, 2 inches long, inch wide, and inch at point. No. 8. — 3^ feet deep. An iron spear lay by the iicad, G inclics long; length of blade 3 inclies ; width at base, iiicli ; at j)oint, inch ; open-sHt socket willi wood rririaining in it. No. ). — 5 feet deep. This liody l;iy with feet (n tlu^ cast. A s'llida (see woodcut, l^'ig. V'lll.) lay by tlie right side of the head. It resembles those Couiid at Wilhrnliam in 1851, "Saxon Obscr|uies," plate 17. Tlic wooden staves liad almost entirely pei'ished, Inii ilie bands nf ln-dnze which