Roman cremation burials, possibly a cemetery, from near Grimsditch Wood (EHER 4807)

Roman cremation burials associated with finds of pottery, glass and lead possibly deposited in a wooden chest.

Burial-probably Roman. <1> In 1844 Joseph Clark reported Roman remains found during draining on high ground in the north of the parish of Little Walden. The exact site, which has not been identified from his description, was near Grimsditch Wood. Clarke described the following articles as found together not more than 2ft deep, and associated with iron hinges and part of a hasp or fastening, which indicates that they were buried in a chest: a Samian bowl, f.35; a large f.36 type samian bowl; a dish of f. Curle 15 with handles, broken off; a gladd unguentarium 3 and a half inches high; a bottle of thick green glass 4" square and 6" high; and the rim of a small glass vessel, nearly colourless, and undecorated. Coarse ware included a large cinerary urn and part of another urn of friable light-coloured ware, found upside-down and containing burnt bones. There was also an iron lamp-holder; part of an iron spear-head, barbed on one side; a spear shaft; a pair of rude iron hinges; parts of an iron staple and hasp; pieces of lead; six lion-headed bronze studs, each with a central iron rivet and outer groove, and two or three with attachements probably for leather. Elsewhere in the same field were found: a Samian bowl, stamped, apparently 'O.SERV*P'; a cup, stamped 'OF.VERI'; a small, deep patera 'differing in form from any of the rest'; fragments of a large dish which had been riveted with lead; part of a bottle of thick green glass 3" square; a wide-mouthed vessel of very thin greenish glass 4 and a half inches high, embossed; a phial 3 and a half inches high; three very small bronze studs like those described above; a dupondius of Trajan; and a small part of a very large amphora. Many fragments were found below the surface on different parts of the hill, and pieces of glass in considerable quantities to those already mentioned. <2> See also <3> <4> <5> as quoted in <2>, and <6>. In Saffron Walden Museum. <7> <8> The Roman finds were found by Mr G Slater farmer of Little Walden on the highest part of a hamlet at the northern extremity of Saffron Walden bordered by rising ground on three sides and on the fourth by a holloway. <9> December 1977. Field survey. The findsite of the Roman finds was not established. The land farmed by G Slater was not shown on the Tithe Map, but two names, Great and Little Bones at TL 551405 and TL 5495 4018 are shown. These fields lie to the south west of Grimsditch Wood on undulating boulder clay at present under plough. Saffron Walden Museum believe the finds came from Little Walden (note TL 54 SW 21) but no local tradition of the finds survives in the area of the village. <10> <11> <12> Site Assessment: Accession numbers needed. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data transfer.