Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Henry Crowe to John Homfray, Esq.
Read Nov. 8, 1798.
"In levelling a barrow on Buxton Common, about nine miles N. E. of Norwich, the workmen found at nine or ten feet from the surface a few bones, and near them the large urn, (Pl. XXVI. fig. 4.) having its mouth downwards, covering a small heap of bones, which from their imperfect state, and whitish appearance, seem to have been burnt. In digging to the west they discovered three small urns alike (Pl. XXVI. fig. 5.) placed in a row, and near them ten or twelve of the same, all with their mouths downwards. Under these, which were in a cluster, was a stratum of earth, from its reddish colour probably burnt, covering an oval cavity of about four feet by five, which was filled with a considerable quantity of charcoal, or burnt wood, in large pieces of eight or ten inches long. Amongst these, and in the stratum of earth, were bones alike in appearance to those in the large urn.
The large urn is of the most coarse and ordinary pottery imaginable, and, as it crumbles between the fingers, may possibly have never been burnt. The bottom, being placed upwards, was broken by the workmen. The inside appeared as if blackened by smoke. The smaller one, (fig. 5.) though imperfect, is the least so of twelve or fourteen which were found; in substance not quite so soft as the other. The third vessel (Pl. XXVI. fig. 6.) may possibly have been a lamp; its shape somewhat resembles the upper part of a lid to an urn, but it does not appear to have been broken off. It is of rude workmanship, but harder than the others. The holes seem to have been ornamental, as they do not perforate it. It was found amongmany
