ROMANO-BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT CHIGWELL. 9
CINERARY URNS AND VARIOUS VESSELS.
The question is often asked : What did funeral vessels contain ?
Generally, I think, the broad-mouthed urns found in Roman
burial-grounds were filled with the calcined bones of the dead,
gathered together after the burning of the body. These remains
it seemed to be the great object to preserve, perhaps in belief of
a future life and use for them. The mouth of the urn would be
covered with a tile or flat piece of pottery when deposited in the
grave. Such, at least, seems to have been the custom in Britain ;
but some urns of the Roman period, discovered in Egypt, have
neatly fitting plugs of hardened clay inserted in the mouth of the
urns. The Romans do not seem to have been particular what
vessels they used as receptacles for the bones and ashes of the
dead ; glass bottles, common earthen pots, amphorae, or great
wine or oil vessels—in fact, anything of suitable size.
Coins have often been found beneath the bones at the base
of the urns.
Other vessels, ampullae, vases, etc., which frequently accompany
the urns, may have held spices, honey, wine, etc., for the use of
the spirit-body, or possibly as offerings to the gods of the pagans.
Nos. 3, 8, 10, and 18 are examples of wide-mouthed vessels
containing bones and ashes.
Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 (ampullae, or short-necked jugs), and No. 9
(vase-shaped) are vessels which apparently accompanied the
cinerary urns.
LEADEN FRAGMENT.
No. 19 is a fragment of lead, which may have been accidentally
made by the run of the metal in a molten state, or may have been
intended to represent the thumb and four fingers of a hand. It
is curious that it should have been deposited by the side of the
bones in the coffin in the one instance we have of burial by
inhumation.
BRONZE FRAGMENT.
No. 20 (illustrated above in actual size) may have been a
portion of a buckle or other object. It is ornamented with three
little circles and a row of dots.