Roman cremations and possible tomb at Rickling Green (EHER 4657)

In March 1852, labourers ditching in a field found Roman occupation debris and cremations. In one of the urns was a small bronze duck, apparently part of a fibula.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Roman burials and possible tomb. Also found was a Roman duck fibula brooch (possibly with burial). <1> Roman remains found March 1852. Neville was sent for in 1852 to look at ancient remains dug up in a field on the property of Mrs Judd of Maces Place, Rickling Green. Here he found debris of several vessels of Roman pottery, red, black and white. He did not remember any Samian. Parts of bottles, paterae and urns broken by labourers. They had been found while land ditching. Contents of vessels were calcined human bones "of which I saw abundance". The only relic found was a small bronze duck, apparently part of a fibula (brooch) or some personal ornament. In the field Neville was shown a wall resembling a foundation, composed of large stones and rubble tied together with mortar. It was about 10 or 12ft long x 18" wide. He was told that the vessels had been placed close along the sides and ends of this. Neville's own workmen trenched the ground but with no success. An identical duck was figured in 'Reliq. Isurianae'. <2> In the VCH is a suggestion that the duck was from a lamp-shield. The VCH also refers to the wall as foundations of stones and rubble laid dry. <3> The Roman cremation urns were broken on finding, and contained abundant calcined human bones. In one of the urns was a small bronze duck, apparently part of a fibula. Other finds included pottery and glass. <4> April 1975. Field survey. Local tradition asserts that the Roman finds at Maces Place were made at TL 509298 in an area now occupied by farm buildings and a modern house named Chestnut Cottage, built in 1974. No finds were reported from the construction of the house, and the whereabouts of the original objects cannot be ascertained. <5> See also: <6> - <8>