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I.—On Late-Celtic Antiquities discovered at Welwyn, Herts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2011

Reginald A. Smith
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Extract

Since the extensive find at Aylesford, published by the Society in 1890, there have been numerous isolated discoveries of pedestal and other urns, especially in Essex and Kent, most of which have found their way into Colchester Museum; but nothing that could be said to throw any new light on the Early Iron Age of Britain was met with till 1906, when burial vaults were discovered at Welwyn (fig. 1). To ensure greater privacy the late Mr. George Edward Dering, of Lockleys, arranged for the diversion of the station road which passed the lodge-gates of his park; this operation involved cutting through a chalk hill capped with gravel, which proved rich in Late-Celtic remains, Unfortunately for archaeology, the excavations were not supervised with this end in view, and much was no doubt destroyed or overlooked by the workmen. An important series, however, of which a list is given below, came into the hands of Mr. Dering, who questioned the foreman as to their position and grouping, and the following account is based on notes taken by the present writer of Mr. Dering's statement in January, 1907. They are supplemented and in part corrected by information given to Sir Arthur Evans by Sir A. Scott-Gatty, Garter King of Arms, who did all in his power as a resident at Welwyn to rescue the antiquities and to preserve a record of the circumstances in which they were found. The discovery was also communicated by him to Sir John Evans, who visited Lockleys with the President to make an inspection of the objects in December, 1906. They were then in a lamentable condition, and remained so till Mr. Dering's death i n January, 1911, after which, by desire of Mrs. Alfred James Neall, Mr. Dering's daughter and heiress, they were removed to the British Museum, to be presented to the Trustees after being exhibited to the Society.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 63 , 1912 , pp. 1 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1912

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References

page 1 note 1 A biographical notice appeared in The Times, 13 Feb., 1911, p. 6Google Scholar.

page 4 note 1 Antiquary, Dec. T908, 444; Jan. 1911, 6, and Feb. p. 53. Though the Lockleys series is alluded to (p. 8), the illustrations show that the burials described as Late-Celtic were really Romano-British. A Roman villa has been found in the Rectory garden.

page 4 note 2 One precisely of this pattern was found at Park Field, Lexden, Essex, and is preserved in the Colchester Museum. Another, in Dorchester Museum, was found in the backwater at Weymouth, 8 ft. deep in sandy clay between the tunnel and the dam, in mid channel. Another is repdrted from Clinton, Aston (Records of Bucks., iv. 147)Google Scholar. The body of another from Welwyn is figured in the Antiquary, 1911, 56Google ScholarPubMed.

page 4 note 3 Moreau, , Album Caranda, nouv. sér, pl. 113.Google Scholar

page 5 note 1 Early Iron Age Guide (Brit. Mus.), fig. 19.

page 5 note 2 Proceedings, xx. 350Google Scholar.

page 5 note 3 Jahrbuchfur Altertumskunde (Vienna, 1908), ii. 91, fig. 5.Google Scholar

page 5 note 4 Bulliot, , Fouilles du Mont Beuvray, Album, pl. xixGoogle Scholar, figs. 1 (height 3 ft. 11 in.) and 2; xxix. 11. Many stamps on amphorae are given on pl. lx.

page 5 note 5 The Ham Hill bull's head (Proceedings, xxi. 133) is slightly different, but the Birdlip knife-handle is a typical example (Archaeologia, lxi. 332).

page 5 note 6 For similar mane on horses, see Archaeologia, lii, pl. xiii, figs. 2, 3; horses and boars on coins passim in Hucher's L'Art Gaulois.

page 5 note 7 L'Anthropologie, 1896, 553Google Scholar, and figs. 382-4, p. 178.

page 6 note 1 Revue Numismatique, xv (1911), 46.Google Scholar

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page 6 note 4 Archiv für Anthropologie, &c, newser., vol. v (1906)Google Scholar, Correspondenzblatt, 128: discovered 1901.

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page 6 note 6 Pič, , Le Hradischt de Stradonitz (trans. Dechelette, ), pl. xxxviiiGoogle Scholar, fig. 26; xxxix. 2. According to the author the site was occupied from 15 or 5 E.G. to A.D. 25 or 50; and according to the translator it was destroyed 10 B. C.

page 6 note 7 Mitteilungen der anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien, xxi. 143-6, fig. 181 (Salurn, Tyrol); xxii. 105; xxv. 57, 127. For Gurina fragments see vol. xxi, figs. 172-3; Este, figs. 175-6.

page 6 note 8 La Civilisation primitive en Italie, i. 278, pl. lvi, fig. 15.

page 7 note 1 Archaeologia, xlviii. 117: most of the other objects are illustrated.

page 7 note 2 Archaeologia Catnbrensis, sixth ser., i. 39; third ser., ii. 91. The illustration (fig. 3) has been kindly lent by the Council of the Cambrian Archaeological Society.

page 8 note 1 Archaeologia, xix. 61, pl. iv.

page 8 note 2 See fig. 13, loc. cit. Another example, from Colchester, is in the Castle Museum there: a similar chain was found with shackles at Bigbury, near Canterbury (Archaeological Journal, lix. 216, figs. 6, 7), and at Chesterford, Essex (ibid., xiii, pl. 2, figs 21, 22; pl. 3, figs. 31:, 32).

page 9 note 1 A stay has been added at the bottom since the discovery. The extreme length is 38 in., the distance between the uprights 21½ in., and the bars are uniformly 2¼ in. wide. There are no signs of a mane or cresting. Illustrated in Archaeologia Cambrensis, 6th ser., xii. 104.

page 9 note 2 Publications of Cambridge Antiquarian Soc, i (1840-1846)Google Scholar‘Roman and Roman-British remains at and near Shefford, Beds.’ (1845), 15, plates 2, 3Google Scholar.

page 10 note 1 The hooks resemble those found in Late-Celtic surroundings at Bigbury, near Canterbury: Archaeological Journal, lix. 215, pl. ii, fig. 5. The rods were twisted like the ornamental parts of the Welwyn frame, and other specimens have been found abroad of the same period: V. Gross, La Téne, un Oppidum Helvéte, 44, pl. viii, fig. 3. For Silchester specimen, see Archaeologia, lvi. 242.

page 10 note 2 This type is referred by Willers to the middle of the first century, especially the reigns of Claudius and Nero: Neue Untersuchungen uber die römische Bronzeindustrie von Capua und von Niedergermanien(1907), 77–78Google Scholar.

page 12 note 1 Quicherat, , Mélanges d'Archéologie et d'Histoire—Antiquités Celtiques, Romaines et Gallo-romaines (Paris, 1885), 423Google Scholar: the iron frame is figured, p. 430; Revué des Sociétés Savantes, 1879.

page 13 note 1 Possibly like the sections of a flute found at Stanfordbury, and figured by Sir Dryden, Henry, Pubns. Carnb. Antiq. Soc., 1845, Pl. 2, 7, P. 18.Google Scholar

page 14 note 1 Grempler, , Der Fund von Sackrau, pl. iiiGoogle Scholar. The height of the front legs is 42¼ in., of the back legs 39¾ in. Cf Ceci, , Bronze del Museo Borbonico, pl. iv, fig. 3Google Scholar.

page 15 note 1 Neue Untersuchungen, pl. v, fig. 4.

page 15 note 2 Dictionnaire des Antiquités, vol. iii, 1720Google Scholar, figs. 4903, 4909, 4910; vol. i, 266, fig. 317.

page 15 note 3 Willers, , op. cit., 27.Google Scholar

page 15 note 4 Proceedings, xxi. 464; Surrey Archaeological Collections, xxi. 165: probably ot the seventh century B.C. (Hallstatt period).

page 16 note 1 Le Hradischt de Stradonitz, col. 77 (trans. Déchelette, ), pl. xxi, figs. 1, 2, 5-8.Google Scholar

page 16 note 2 Brizio, , Tombe e Necropoli galliche della provincia di Bologna, 465Google Scholar, pl. v, figs. 34, 36, 39: in Atti e memorie della R. deputazione di Storia patria, third ser., V (1887)Google Scholar.

page 16 note 3 Proceedings, xxiii. 397.

page 18 note 1 Willers, , op. cit., pl. vGoogle Scholar, fig. 3 (Mehrum, Vörde, south of Wesel), and passim. Two with chains attached to the rings are figured by Montelius, , La civilisation primitive en Italic, i, pi 104Google Scholar, fig. 1;. log, fig. I.

page 18 note 2 Archaeologia, lii. 378.

page 18 note 3 The Ornavasso example figured by Willers, ,op. cit., fig. 12, no. 10Google Scholar, was found with a pail and bronze jug in a grave dated by coins of 150-134 B.C.

page 18 note 4 Willers, , op. cit., 5.Google Scholar

page 19 note 1 Archaeologia, lii. 379.Google Scholar

page 19 note 2 Lindenschmit, , Alterthumer, v. 80Google Scholar, pl. 15; Zeitschrift für Etknologte, 1891, 81Google Scholar.

page 20 note 1 Montelius, , Guide to Stockholm Museum (trans. Derby, , 1887), 68, fig. 114.Google Scholar

page 20 note 2 Many of the Capuan craftsmen's names given by Willers are Greek.

page 21 note 1 Evans, , Ancient British Coins, pl. D, 6–8Google Scholar; pl. viii. 6-9; pl. ix. 1, 2. Hair somewhat in the same style is seen on pl. K, 13, and pl. xvi. 6.

page 21 note 2 Archaeologia, Ixi. 341, fig. 9 (left). It is curious that the same arrangement indicates the hair of the three embossed masks on a sword scabbard from Marson, Marne (Iron Age Guide, 53, fig. 49)Google Scholar.

page 21 note 3 Zur Kcnntnis der La Tevie-Denkmäler der Zone nordwärts der Alpen (Mainzer Festschrift, 1902), 89, pl. vi, fig. 7.Google Scholar

page 22 note 1 Both figured in Archaeologia, lii. 358, 359.

page 22 note 2 Arch. Cambrensis, ser. 5, xiii. 212; Allen, J. R., Celtic Art, 151Google Scholar. Now in Mayer Collection, Liverpool Museum.

page 22 note 3 Barrow II in Archaeologia, xxv, pl. iii, fig. 9Google Scholar.

page 22 note 4 Op. cit., 19, fig. 12, no. 8. It measures 4¾ in. both in height and diameter.

page 22 note 5 The illustration is based on the Aylesford specimen, both the height and maximum diameter being about 8 in.

page 22 note 6 Op. cit., 23.

page 22 note 7 For these patterns see Early Iron Age Guide (Brit. Mus.), 103, 143, and especially fig. 144.

page 22 note 8 Artis, , Durobrivae, pl. xxxviGoogle Scholar, fig. 10. Except this, all mentioned are in the British Museum.

page 23 note 1 Early Iron Age Guide, 123, fig. 103; Aylesford pair, 119, figs. 97, 98; Elveden, fig, 99.

page 23 note 2 Proc. Camb. Antiq. Soc., xiii. 151, fig. 5.

page 23 note 3 Archaeologia, lii. 334.

page 24 note 1 Besides those in Colchester and Maidstone Museums, pedestal urns have been found in fragments at Carshalton, Surrey (Journ. R. Anthrop. Inst., N.S., viii. 393, figs. 4, 5); Cobham, Surrey (Surrey Arch. Collns, xxii. 153, fig. 23)Google Scholar; and near Rayleigh, Essex (see p. 27).

page 25 note 1 Sir Arthur Evans has pointed out that the change took place in North Italy in the third century B.C, the earliest Gaulish graves at Marzabotto being inhumations, while incineration was general in the later period (Archaeologia, lii. 387).

page 25 note 2 Early Iron Age Guide (Brit. Mus.), pl. iv, fig. 11.

page 25 note 3 Proceedings, xxii. 509 (Broadstairs); Records of Bucks, 1908, 353Google ScholarPubMed (Ellesborough, Bucks.), besides the pedestal urns already mentioned. The type most easily identified is illustrated in Early Iron Age Guide, pl. iv, fig. 8.

page 25 note 4 As at Billericay and Shoebury, Essex (Proceedings, xvi. 259)Google Scholar; Pitt-Rivers, , Excavations at Rotherley, I, pl. xxxvGoogle Scholar, fig. 5; II, pl. cix, fig. 1; pl. ex, figs. 1,3. Oare, near Pewsey, Wilts, . [Cat. Devizes Museum, pl. xlixGoogle Scholar, fig. E, no. 874, pp. 99, 107).

page 25 note 5 Montelius, , La civilisation primitive en Italie, I, pl. 84, figs. 26, 27.Google Scholar

page 25 note 6 For example, at Cobham, Surrey (Surrey Arch. Coll., xxi. 202, fig. 8).Google Scholar

page 26 note 1 Proceedings, xiii. 16.Google Scholar

page 27 note 1 Archaeologia, lii. 354.Google Scholar

page 27 note 2 Essex Naturalist, xvi. 253, figs. 3, 4.Google Scholar

page 27 note 3 Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc, xlv. 81.Google Scholar

page 27 note 4 Times, 28 Feb. 1911, p. 15.Google Scholar

page 28 note 1 Archaeologia, xxvi. 300, pls. xxxi-xxxv; cf. vol. xxv, pl. i.Google Scholar

page 28 note 2 This may have served the same purpose as the iron frame at Welwyn; and another example is published from an early Frankish grave: Moreau, , Album Caranda, nouv. sér., 7Google Scholar.

page 28 note 3 Archaeologia, xxv. 7.Google Scholar

page 28 note 4 Colchester Museum. These pans and jugs have also been found together at Canterbury (Proceedings, xviii. 279), Bartlow, (Archaeologia, xxvGoogle Scholar, pl. ii, fig. 11), and Santon Downham (supra).

page 28 note 5 Mainz Museum Report, 1895-6, pl. viii, figs. 5, 6.

page 29 note 1 Both in British Museum: V.C.H. Northants, i. 238Google Scholar; Herts., i. 253Google Scholar; and Proceedings, xviii. 110.Google Scholar

page 29 note 2 Proceedings, xxii. 414.Google Scholar

page 29 note 3 Willers, , op. cit., 56.Google Scholar

page 29 note 4 Hucher, , L'Art Ganlois, pl. 59, 87.Google Scholar

page 29 note 5 Proceedings, xxi. 464Google Scholar; Surrey Arch. Collns., xxi. 165.Google Scholar

page 29 note 6 Proceedings, xx266.Google ScholarPubMed

page 30 note 1 Archaeologia, lii. 382Google Scholar; cf. Montelius, , La civilisation primitive en Italic, ii, pl. 250, fig. 16Google Scholar.

page 30 note 2 Rev. Goddard, E. H. in Wilts. Archaeological Magazine, xxxv. 392Google Scholar; the thirteen brooches are also illustrated (figs. 3-15). List also in Bulleid, and Gray, , The Glastonbury Lake-village, i. 185Google Scholar. Forms allied to the pedestal urn have been noticed at Casterley Camp, Wilts, . (Cat. Devizes Museum, 108Google Scholar, no. E 41 ej, and recently at Hengistbury Head, Hants.

page 30 note 3 Archaeologia, lxi. 341Google Scholar.