Late Iron Age to Roman cremation cemetery at Carters Farm, Hilly Field (EHER 1305)

An Iron Age and Romano-British cemetery was excavated at Stebbing. Three cremations date from pre-Flavian to the 2nd century in date.

In 1958, son of the landowner found a bronze "pyxis" containing a parcel-guilt fibula and two republican denarii. In 1968, a boxed cremation was found, consisted of: a glass cinerary urn, a brown glass jug, two South Gaulish Samian vessels, a globular beaker. Date range of about 50-65AD. Fieldwalking in 1971 by Rodwell produced two glass vessel fragments-both pre-Flavian. In 1975-76 fieldwalking by C.J. Going, fragments of about six more glass vessels were found, possibly from one grave group. A possible stylus was also found. Air surveillance in 1975-76 revealed a cropmark of possible enclosure, over 40m by 40m, possibly indicated a walled or ditched cemetery. Finds to Saffron Walden Museum. A Dressel 1B amphora was found "at Lindsell" sometime before 1840, was presented to Saffron Walden Museum, may have come from this site, the "Lindsell bead" may also be from this site. Site Assessment = Under plough, rate of destruction lessened, approx. 10-12" of soil dumped on site in 1976. At Going's request, subsoiling of area of finds not now to take place (1977). <1> <2> A bronze container was found on the surface of the field, 10-20m south of the power-line supports. Inside were the fibula and two denarii - mint of Rome, between 57 and 42 BC. Fieldwalking by Rodwell in 1972, and by Going in 1975, Roman finds of glass and iron made. In 1968 a trench was opened by the landowner, parts of an iron-bound chest were found, also found were a glass cinerary urn, a Samian platter filled with fragments of bone, a nest of pottery and glass vessels. <3> Rodwell claims that the mound or knoll at TL 648269 was bulldozed some years ago and was "clearly a barrow" from which the finds described above came. Going says there wasn't a mound. <4> The positions of the two coins in the pyxis are traceable from the impressions in the corrosion products. Container was complete when found but the upper half - possibly a different metal - was lost. A local archaeologist excavated on the highest part of the spur from which the field name probably comes, without result. Fieldwalking in 1972 by Rodwell and in 1975 by Going produced more glass and iron finds (mainly) including unguentarium fragments, two coloured glass flagons, a cylindrical bottle, part of the handle of a bulbous glass jar. Possibly the bronze container (the pyxis) was harrowed down the field from the area where the glass and other fragments were found, they mark the site of a ploughed-out burial. Not likely that the pyxis from the 1968 burial as that grave group was apparently undisturbed when found. <5> <6> Importance of site - one of the few rural cemeteries to be excavated in the area in recent years, and for the possibility that it originated in the late pre-Roman Iron Age. <7> See also: <8> - <14> NRHE data transfer: Some 150 sqm. of a Roman and possibly late Iron Age cemetery at Stebbing was excavated. Burials included three cremations of pre-Flavian to 2nd century date. A number of glass and Samian ware finds were made. <15> See also: <16> <17>