Roman cinerary urns from the New Churchyard Graveyard, Terling (EHER 6087)

Three Roman urns were found in 1940 and in around 1944 in the new cemetery. Two were of 2nd century date and a third of 3rd to 4th century in date.

Roman beaker found in digging grave in new churchyard, opposite the school and not far south of the road (VCH gives NGR as TL 77161501). The vessel was in 'dark slaty-blue ware, matching the Mithraeum series at Colchester'. The rim was destroyed after the vessel was found. 'Since 1950 two 2nd century urns have been found, 8ft apart'. <1> The vessel found in 1940 is described as an 'urn' and given a 3rd-4th century date. The other two vessels were found in around 1944 and were empty. In 1950 they belonged to Lord Rayleigh. In 1975 the active part of the cemetery was approximately 20m north of the graves dug in the 1940s and no pottery was visible in the lightly disturbed ground. SMR and OS card mention the 1944 finds approximately 8ft from the earlier one rather than 8ft apart. <2> <3> NRHE data transfer: Roman pot found Dec 1940 in new cemetery and later two more pots. Dr. J. C. Morrice Pot is 3rd to 4th century with blue grey paste. <4> October 1949. Field survey. The urn mentioned by Mr. Hull is of a blue-grey paste, 3rd. to 4th. century, of the type found in the Colchester Mithraim. Two other pots were found about 8ft from the first. Both 2nd century, they were found in around 1944 and were empty. Now in possession of Lord Rayleigh. <5> <6> Roman Urns found AD 1940 & 1944. <7> December 1975. Field survey. The present active part of the cemetery is some twenty metres to the north of the graves dug in the 1940s - No pottery could be seen in the freshly disturbed soil. <8> Note: This record was originally mapped to TL 7713 1497, but has been remapped to TL 7716 1501, using the NRHE record which corresponds to the named location.