Sheshen Eceni: Bartlow Hills Page

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Bartlow Hills Page Two

fig1: the footpath to Bartlow Park burial mounds

The history of Bartlow Hills. Page One

In the village of Bartlow, situated on the (South Cambridgeshire/ Essex border, nr Linton), lie the three hills or Tumuli, these ancient burial mounds, are the largest in Europe, and formed part of a group of seven originally “conical shaped” Roman burial mounds. thought to be of Romano-British in their origins, due to important archaeological discoveries from excavations that took place in 1832 & 1840, all of the occupants had been cremated, and the finds indicate a Roman way of life.

It would appear that they were wealthy- high status individuals, judging by the grave goods buried with them. It was a known custom of the Gauls (Belgic peoples) to cremate their dead, also a common practise of the Romans, who did so, in imitation of the Greeks, towards the end of the Roman republic.

Who were these high status grave occupants? It is not known who these important people were or where they lived; though the site of a very humble Roman Villa, was discovered nearby during archaeological excavations.

Bartlow Park Information Board:

Burial mounds of this type were built in the late first and early second centuries AD in Eastern England and Belgium. Most artifacts in them show the high status of the owner, they were actually imported from the Rhineland and Northern Gaul, and are concerned with feasting and sacrificial offerings rather than personal belongings which would be useful in the “Afterlife”.

These three Tumuli date from the beginning of the 2^nd century AD, and are evidence of early Roman influence- occupation in Bartlow, and it’s surrounding areas. Originally there were 7/8 burial mounds, lying adjacent to each other, we know this to be fact, based on several archaeological reports, and historical accounts, and through many other sources of archive material that are available. The four great mounds, the larger being 45ft high, had a row of several smaller mounds running in parallel, with the first, the smaller ones, were eventually destroyed, by intensive ploughing, and the introduction of the Great Eastern Railway line. All the barrows had been carefully studied, and all findings reported, fortunately before their destruction. And every one, of the Tumuli examined contained Roman artefacts.We do not know for certain, who the inhabitants were, or to which British tribe, they had once belonged too, but it was a common practise of the Britons to raise a barrow, over the graves of the deceased people , who had held a high/important position in their society. Even during Roman occupation/rule, the native Britons were allowed to follow their religious customs and practises, the Romans often adopting some customs of the British.

It seems certain that a very wealthy and important Romano-British ruling family, were laid to rest, their bodies/ bones interred within these ancient burial mounds or Tumuli, with some remarkable grave goods.

In 1832 the centre barrow was opened, by John Gage, and fellow enthusiasts, some bones were discovered, before reaching the centre, whereupon, they found remains of a large wooden chest, which had virtually perished, clues to it’s existence and shape marked solely by spike nails (some four and a half inches long) which lay in a square exactly where they had fallen, along with the straps laid out at angles. Within this space sepulchral relics came to light, these finds consisted of a thin transparent glass vessel resembling a Florentine flask with a long neck and a decorative fashioned handle, several other similar vessels contained a white fatty type substance. Also found were 8 vessels of red glazed earthenware of different sizes, in the form of cups and saucers, also some dark earthenware urns, a tiny bronze lock, small amounts of burned human bones, were lying on the chalk, surrounded by these grave goods.

Four days later barrows two and three were opened up, in barrow two a remarkable brick sepulchre was found, in the shape of an altar that was six feet three inches long, and two feet three and a half inches wide, which stood north & south on a bed of chalk The basement being a single course of bricks raised on a floor of cement some two inches thick. The sepulchre had been expertly constructed, and totally covered in a thick layer of cement. After the mouth of sepulchre was opened, objects towards the southern end became visible: a large thick cylindrical greenish coloured glass urn eleven and a half inches wide, and ten and a quarter inches in diameter with a short reeded handle, springing from the neck. The vessel was open at the mouth, and nearly two thirds full of a clear pale yellow liquor, this covered a small deposit of burned human bones, inside this particular urn was a coin of with the head of Emperor Hadrian on the obverse, and on the reverse side, a figure holding something almost defaced in it’s right hand, with a cornucopia in the left, thought to be a Fortuna Redux. Hadrian came to Britain in 120 AD, and he had several coins minted, that were inscribed with “Britannia” during his reign. Other objects found include a signet ring that had a cornelian intaglio with the design of two ears of bearded corn.

Barrow number three was opened next, where they found some decomposed wood, before approaching the bed of chalk, the contents being rather like the first, barrow they had examined, except that it lacked any evidence of nails or straps for a chest this time. It also contained similar objects to the previous burial mounds, excavated, like a large, thick square, wide-mouthed, greenish coloured glass urn 12 inches high and 6 inches square, filled with burned bones, other smaller vessels had a fatty matter inside them, as found in barrow 1. Another item of interest was an iron lamp with a long handle fastened by a ring, from which the lamp was suspended, also an elegant bronze vase five and a half inches in height having a fluted handle that terminated in a ram’s head, the handle had been soldered to the vessel.

Further excavations of the larger burial mounds were made between 1835-40, this was done by cutting a tunnel into the centre of each barrow. A great number of relics were found, for example a gold ring, including several vessels made from glass & bronze, a brass coin, several lamps one with it’s wick still in place. The most intriguing items discovered were: a globe-shaped vessel of bronze, beautifully enamelled in red, green, and blue, a bronze Praefericulum with an elevated handle, the lower end of the handle terminating into a beautiful head decorated with a mitra and fillet with long curls descending at the sides, the eyes of the head being of silver. Also found were yellow and red glazed earthenware, some including the potter’s mark, a long-necked glass vessel, and a bell-shaped glass vessel.

The Historian John Gage noted that the diameter of the largest of the barrows was 147ft, and that the three other principal barrows diameters were approximately 100 ft. The altitude of one 93ft, and of the one on each side of it 69ft. The other principal hill which has been lowered is 45ft high. At the time of the excavations into the smaller barrows, the diameters would have been 95ft, and not more than 8 – 10ft high. These have all totally disappeared to this day.

Nearby are the foundations of a Roman Villa, and many Roman coins were found in and around the Bartlow hills site, which dates to the 2^nd century AD, the early inhabitants of this site were almost certainly of Romano-British origin. Nothing on the scale of these ancient burial mounds at Bartlow exist anywhere else in Western Europe, thus indicating that this was once the seat of a very powerful and rich British ruling family. As there are no records from this era, we can only assume that they may have been Sovereigns of a tribal canton of the Trinovantes, Catuvellauni, or even Iceni.

Saffron Walden museum housed the finds from the first exploration in 1815 by Busick Harwood of one of the lesser barrows, and also a collection of coloured drawings of the relics by Mr G. N. Maynard.

The artefacts found during John Gage’s excavations, were taken to Eastern Lodge, Essex, and unfortunately the greater part of these relics were destroyed by fire in 1847. Although there are detailed drawings and archaeological reports of all the excavations, including all of the Roman sepulchres found between 1832-38.

Extract taken from a paper read to the (archaeology) society April 5^th 1832

“At the north end of the parish of Ashdon, in Essex, are certain artificial mounds. They consist of a line of four greater barrows, and a line of three smaller barrows, at the distance of between 70 and 80 feet in front of the others.

“The situation of these mounds is remarkable. They stand on a general acclivity in face of Bartlow church, the country gradually rising around them like an extended amphitheatre.

“Between the hills and the church is a hollow to the north, down which runs a little brook that divides the parishes of Ashdon and Bartlow, forming the boundary of the counties of Essex and Cambridgeshire.

“Though the hills do not belong to the parish of Bartlow, which is in Cambridgeshire, nor to the hamlet of Bartlow which is in Essex, still, from the received interpretation of the Saxon word Low, a barrow, it is clear that they give their name to the place, a proof of their antiquity”.

Legends of the Burial Mounds, Bartlow, Cambs:

Camden the author wrote “on the edge of the county next to Cambridgeshire is Barklow, remarkable for four artificial hills, such as were anciently thrown up for soldiers slain in battle, whose remains, as some think could not be found. “But upon digging downsome time since, I am informed they found three stone coffins with broken bone in them. “The country people say they were cast up after a battle with the Danes, for the dwarf elder which grows plentifully hereabouts, with blood-coloured berries, goes by the name of Danes-blood, in memory of the numbers of that nation slain here”.

Holinshed writes that this is the site of the bloody field of Aescendun or Assandan where Cnut the Dane finally triumphed over King Edmund (Ironside), in 1016, saying “In this place, where the field was fought, are yet seen seven of eight hills wherein the carcasses of them that were slain at the same hills were buried”. Holinshed also speaks of two stone coffins containing the remains of humans and chaines of iron of the bits of horses being found there.

The actual site of the battle whereupon the flower of the English nobility perished; is widely disputed among historians, some authorities favour the Kingdom of Essex, other accounts suggest Mercia. Camden and Gought place the scene of the battle at Assingdon, in the hundred of Rochford, Essex, but Blore says Essendine, Rutland, Morant like Holinshed places the site of the battle amongst the Bartlow hills in the parish of Ashdon.

Written accounts such as: the Anglo-Saxon chronicles mention that Cnut went from Shepey to Essex, passing through into Mercia, but retreated due to the advance of King Edmunds forces, possibly back to Shobury which had become the favourite port and residence of the Danes.

In 1020 King Cnut is said to have built a minster church “of stone and lime” at the battlefield site where he defeated Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon; as a Christian memorial to all those slain in the battle.This small parish church can be found at Ashdon in Essex; the south wall at the east end, is part of Canute’s original building. Historians argue that it is not in keeping with a large minster; unlike the large imposing Anglo-Saxon church at Hadstock, in Essex.

Extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

1020. Cnut came to England and at Easter there was a great council at Cirencester. Earldorman Aethelword was outlawed. This year the king went to Ashingdon, and had built there a minister of stone and lime for the souls of the men who were killed there; and he gave it to his own priest, whose name was Stigand. Archbishop Lifing passed away, and Aethelnoth, monk and dean at Christchurch, was instated as bishop the same year.