8 ROMANO-BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT CHIGWELL.
far wrong in assigning so early a date as the third century for the
probable time when this settlement flourished.
Nearly all the evidence indicates a cemetery rather than the
site of the settlement itself, except a well, sunk towards the
northern end of the workings. This well will be referred to
presently in connection with the exhibits.
The pottery is mostly in fragments, which are scattered
throughout the top soil, suggesting that the cemetery became a
dumping ground for broken rubbish ; here and there, however,
vessels have been found carefully placed; these were generally on
or near patches of burnt material, and were probably funeral
remains deposited after cremation of the body, as usual.
The scattered black material above the gravel suggested the
idea that, possibly, the whole place was occupied as a pottery, but
I think not, as the ware is of very diverse character (though some
might well be local) and the patches are accounted for by the
depositing of cinders and ashes of the dead from the funeral pile
around the urns and other vessels.* Various suggestions have
been offered to account for the smashed condition in which better .
ware—especially the so-called " Samian,''—is usually found, one
being that it was considered unlucky to retain vessels which had
been used by a departed relative, consequently the articles were
cast in, being first broken lest the grave should be violated by
thieves to obtain them.
The following remarks, suggested by the articles shown, are
placed mainly in the order of the exhibits:—
IRON NAILS.
The cemetery has afforded many evidences of cremation, but
only one of burial by inhumation ; in this instance, a coffin or
box of wood, with an inner lining of lead, was used, the outer
case being fixed together by means of the nails shown. Some
of the nails have been cleaned, others retain the conglomeration
of oxidized wood and earth clinging to them. A curious frag-
ment, or figure of lead, found in this coffin will be referred
to presently. In addition to the nails, pieces are shown of the
LEADEN COFFIN.
These, and a few more of similar character, are the only
fragments remaining of the inner coffin.
* Cochet's La Normandie Souterraine (1854), p. 150.