THREE HUMAN BURIALS AT GREAT CHESTERFORD 341
A Short Report on Three Human Burials found at
Great Chesterford, Essex
By B. Hooper
During June 1971, Mr C. Knight, who was digging a narrow
sewage-pipe trench in the gardens of Crown Cottages, Great
Chesterfield, came across a human skull. He immediately con-
tacted Mr F. Waightman a local amateur archaeologist, who in
turn informed the author.
On visiting the site it was discovered that Mr Knight had in
fact cut through the legs of two other human skeletons before
unearthing the skull. Close by could be seen parts of the skele-
tons of two horses projecting from the sides of the trench and
the spoil heap was found to be littered with an assortment of
Romano-British debris. Having obtained the owner's permission
it was decided to carry out a small rescue excavation to recover
the rest of the burials and to examine the immediate area.
Whilst this was being prepared, Mr Knight continued digging the
sewage-pipe trench and revealed a number of features including
a flint wall foundation and the top of a large Roman rubbish
pit. This pit was subsequently excavated to a depth of 2.4
metres (8 ft.) and a large quantity of animal bones, pottery, nails
and a few small finds included two 1st century A.D. brooches
were recovered. (The pit contents and the other features are to
be published at a later date. This note is concerned only with
the inhumations).
The site (TL 505429) in the gardens of Crown Cottages ad-
jacent to the All (London to Newmarket) road, lies within the
east wall of the Roman town of Great Chesterfield. None of the
walls are now extant, but the position of the eastern section in
relation to the present site is fairly well authenticated (V. C. H.
Essex, iii. p. 72-6). Archaeological excavations have been carried
out in the northern part of the town (op. cit), but little has been
done in the southern area, most finds occurring as a result of
building and agricultural activity. ,
In 1967 the remains of two other skeletons along with
Romano-British pottery sherds of l-2nd century A.D. were found
by workmen digging a drain trench about 73 metres (80 yds.)
south-west of the present site. These bones were deposited with
Saffron Walden Museum, where they have since been examined,
and now form a brief appendix below. Many other human re-
mains have been found in gardens in the vicinity, but none has
been published (F. Waightman, personal communication).