Late Iron Age cremation cemetery at South House Farm, Little Hallingbury (EHER 3592)

Late Iron Age cremation cemetery discovered during gravel extraction in 1875-1876.

Late Iron Age cremation cemetery discovered during gravel extraction in 1875-1876. More than twenty urns were discovered. Three are preserved in Little Hallingbury Church and one is in Colchester Museum. Two more urns were discovered in 1937 by Mr C.N. Roberts. In 1973 one was still in his possession. <1> - <8> The site has now been quarried away. <9> NRHE data transfer: Celtic urns found in 1875. <10> "An Iron Age C Urnfield was discovered on the 26 April 1876 in a gravel pit on South House Farm. Of the twenty or more urns found only four are known to have been preserved; three of these are kept in the vestry of Little Hallingbury Church and the fourth, a small pedestalled urn, is in the Colchester Museum." <11> The three urns at Little Hallingbury Church are displayed in a glass case at the west end of the aisle. <12> The small pedestalled urn in Colchester Museum, Iron Age C, is of red brown ware, 6 1/2" high. Donated by G.E. Pritchett. <13> Two more Iron Age C cinerary urns were found by Mr C.N. Roberts in 1937 in the face of the gravel pit about 18" from the surface after frost had caused the edges of the pit to break away. Both urns contained cremated bones and are in possession of the finder. <14> June 1973. Field Survey. Although Mr C.N. Roberts could not be contacted for siting confirmation on the 1937 finds, it would appear from the area of the gravel pit shown on OS 25" that the burial ground was centred at TL 4939 1643. The gravel pit is still in operation over a much extended area, but no further finds are reported. Mr Robert's son confirmed that his father is still in possession of at least one of the '1937' urns, and three cremation urns from the 1876 finds are still on view at Little Hallingbury Church. Burial ground - site of, surveyed at 1:2500. <14>