Roman burials in the gravel pit to the north-west of the town wall, Great Chesterford (EHER 13931)

An "extensive cemetery" explored north of the town, about 200 yards outside the wall and comprised at least 70 inhumation burials and a group of 10 vessels, possibly representing a cremation burial.

November 1859 - January 1860. Antiquarian excavation. An "extensive cemetery" explored north of the town, about 200 yards outside the wall. Excavated by Neville in 1859. "In 6 weeks no fewer than 70 interments were found, with fragments of pottery, third brass coins, bone pins and the like. In January 1860 came a burial group of 10 vessels, including a samian cup and dish. Neville had already located part of this cemetery in 1847 [EHER 46232] in the central oblong strip of field outside the town wall 30 skeletons were discovered, two of children, also pots, often containing bones, more than 20 were found close together...... succeeding each other in rows they reached the number of 55". <1> An extensive cemetery was excavated by Braybrooke in November 1859. In six weeks 70 interments were found, with fragments of pottery, bone pins, coins, etc. In January 1860, a burial group of 10 vessels, including 3 stamped samian vessels, a glass vessel, an urn, 2 bottles, a large jar and a lamp, was found. From the same site came a square glass bottle with A.P. inscribed on the base, and a glass dish, presumably from another grave. <2> This would appear to be a mixed cemetery of inhumations and cremations, without mutual disturbance according to Neville. <1> <3> See also <4>. The course of the Roman road and lines of pits (presumed to be burials) were visible as cropmarks on 2018 aerial photography. <5> See also <6> <7>. Note: The precise location of the gravel pit and extent of the burials which were excavated by Neville is not known. The mapped polygon appears to correlate with a modern field parcel and is suggestive of the area within which the cropmarks may have been recorded on the manually rectified NMP layer, and which were visible in 2018. It does not necessarily represent the extent of the burials. Source <2> locates the excavation to TL 5008 4343 which is in the westernmost part of this polygon. NRHE data transfer: An extensive Roman inhumation cemetery was discovered and excavated by Lord Braybrooke in November 1855, 200 yds north of the Roman station at Great Chesterford (TL 501 434). It consisted of seventy inhumations with grave goods of Roman sherds, third brass coins and domestic objects. In Jan 1856 labourers digging gravel 200 yds north of the ancient walls, which once surrounded the site known as Borough Field, found an inhumation accompanied by an ampulla, Roman pottery lamp, and several vessels of Samian and other wares. The finds are now in Lord Braybrooke's Museum at Audley End. Another inhumation was discovered by Lord Braybrooke, in 1847, during the construction of the Newmarket Branch Railway (now disused) (TL 500 436 [see EHER 83478]). Two hundred large brass coins of Caligula to Commodus contained in a bronze trulla (pierced to serve as a strainer) accompanied it. <8> <3>