Monument record RGH 002 - Tumuli - Part of Eastlow Hill Group

Three Barrows - Part of Eastlow Hill Group.
Barrow A (site of)(TL 8994 6171 approx):
1843: Quarried away by labourers. Mound contained a tiled chamber, within which were a cremation in a glass vessel and a large iron lamp (R1).
1871: Destroyed (R2)(R3).
1970: No trace (S1).
1976: No trace (R4).
Barrow B (remains of)(TL 8992 6167):
1843: Excavated by Prof J H Henslow. Mound 54 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. Central tiled chamber containing broken glass vessel which held a cremation and a coin of Trajan, a glass lachrymatory, two small grey ware vessels, two yellow ware flagons, two samian bowls and two platters, an iron lamp and two slightly curved iron rods (R1).
1871: A grassed and mutilated mound, 56 feet in diameter, 5 feet high (R2)(R3).
1970: Mound is now four spoil heaps (S1).
1976: Four overgrown spoil heaps in copse (R4).
Barrow C (site of)(TL 8992 6165 approx):
1843: Opened by Prof J H Henslow. Mound partly under the road and much damaged. 'Two vases of imperfectly burnt dark earthenware' each containing a cremation found on the old ground surface. Sherds of samian ware were found under the barrow (R1).
1871: Destroyed (R2)(R3).
1951: "Found pieces of Rom tiles and one sherd of early Iron Age pottery near the spoil heaps of one of the smaller tumuli" (This could refer to B or C)(R5).
See also RGH 001.

Taken from NRHE record:
Four Ro barrows extending SW in a line from Eastlow Hill, the largestand most northerly of the Group, and near a Ro building (TL 96 SW 1). The three smaller barrows were opened during 1843. That next to Eastlow Hill contained a tiled chamber at ground level, within which there was a square jar or urn contained a tiled chamber below ground level, with a two handled glass urn containing a cremation and a large iron lamp. This mound was destroyed. The next barrow to the SW containing a cremation, a corroded coin, an iron lamp, two short iron rods, Samain and 2nd C coarse pottery.
This barrow still remains - presumably that at TL 89926167. The most southerly barrow was much disturbed by the road and little trace is left. Finds included a cremation and fragments of urns
and Samian ware. Eastlow Hill was excavated in 1844. This contained a body wrapped in skins in a lead coffin, within a small chamber of flint rubble and tiles with a ridged tile roof, standing on a concrete platform. (See attached plan). No objects found.

The principal mound although almost its original height is in a pitiful state, having been burrowed into from the E and SW and dug into in two places on top.

The other published mound is now four spoil heaps.

No other barrows could be seen. See annotated 25" survey.

TL 899617. Eastlow Hill tumulus - scheduled.

Opening of a Roman Tumulus. A most interesting discovery illustrative of the funeral customs of the Anglo-Romans, has been made in the parish of Rougham, on the estate of Philip Bennet, Esq. At the corner of the two roads leading to Hessett and Bradfield Manger, and within a few feet of the highway, stands the half of a hill called Eastlow Hill, and a slight distance therefrom were two semi-circular mounds about 50 and 60 feet in diameter, covered with herbage and shrubs. The men belonging to Mr Levett’s farm were engaged in clearing away one of these mounds, to lay the soil upon the land; when, on Friday last, having come to the centre, the pick of the workmen broke into an oven-shaped cist or cavern, containing sepulchral remains. A hole, between three and four feet square, appears to have been first dug about three feet below the general level of the country. Four rows of red hollow tile bricks, each 11 inches long, about 6 inches wide, and 7 inches deep, and nearly an inch thick, and having a circular hole in the middle of each end, were then placed on the soil, and covered with large flat tiles. The whole was arched over with tiles, forming a chamber about 2.5 feet square and 2 feet deep; open at one end. Each tile was ornamented with two striated bands, placed diagonally from angle to angle, & crossing in the centre. In this chamber was a large square canister-shaped urn of emerald green glass with a handle on one side. It was nearly 16 inches high and 8 inches wide; and was about half full of burnt bones. By the side of the urn was a large plain iron lamp, of the accustomed form, in length, from the wick chamber o the handle, nearly a foot. Unfortunately with the ignorance of the man who made the discovery, the cist was opened so carelessly that the fine and curious urn was broken. This part of the country must have been extensively occupied by the Romans for paterae, and pieces of pottery, swords, spurs, and other articles of iron, have been frequently, and for many years, discovered within two feet of the surface in this part of Rougham, and within the adjoining parish of Whelnetham. The land was common till within the last 30 years; and so many human bones were found, it is said, on removing part of the Eastlow Hill, that the then owner of the estate (Mr Keddington) refused to permit any more of the hill to be cleared. Adjoining to the tumulus which has been opened is another, as yet quite undisturbed; and near to them are the pits or trenches whence it is probable the soil was procured to heap up these simple and long -enduring resting-places. Whether Mr Bennett will sanction the removal of the remaining tumul is not known; but with a little care, its contents might be ascertained (S3).

“I had this day the gratification of visiting the Roman Tumulus at Rougham, of the excavation, and contents of which a minute and interesting account, from the pen of the Rev. J. S. Henslow, has appeared in your paper 20th instant.

Little need be added to the description of that gentleman of the vessels found within the ancient tombs. I doubt, however, whether two of the potters’ marks on the paterae of red ware have been successfully deciphered; I know from experience, in numerous specimens, that similar stamps on Roman vessels are often imperfectly impressed. He second stamp may, I imagine, be read MICCIO F., ie Micio fecit; the third ALBUCI, contractedly, for Albuci (manu).
The Roman Tumuli at Rougham are four in number, and are close to the eastern side of the road, the direction of which is nearly North and South. I need not here point out how precisely with the Roman custom the placing tombs by a road corresponds.

The road itself is therefore a vestige of roman occupation, yet a mere vicinal or rural communication, falling into a more important line of way, leading from Bury St Edmond’s to the S. E. quarter of the Icenia district. Numerous Roman remains are extant in the neighbourhood of Bury, and, together with the Saxon appellation which the place bears, corroborate its claims to have been a considerable Roman town.
The northernmost of the four tumuli is distinguished as Easlow or Eastlow-hill; the Saxon word low is often applied to Roman Barrows, for instance, Bartlow, Limlow, &c. This tumulus rises at least thwelve feet above the surface of the natural soil, and is about 100 feet in diameter; it does not appear to have been opened, but a portion of the W side has been cut away and applied to agricultural purposes. Its summit is at this time covered with hathorn bushes. The next tumulus south-ward of the eastlow, was opened some months since, and within a small chamber, composed of Roman tiles, and sunk beneath the natural surface of the soil, were found the square glass cinerary vase, iron lamp, and other articles described by Mr Henslow.

The third tumulus, fifty feet in diameter, and 5 feet in height, was explored last week; under it, sunk below the natural surface, was a chamber about 4 feet square, composed of Roman tiles, roofed in with the same materials and a coating of coarse stucco; see Mr Henslow’s paper above cited. This chamber contained the glass cinerary urn and vessels of the “caena feraliis”, described in the same notice. The tiles of which these tombs were constructed were of very large dimensions, they consist of long flat tiles the well known roof tiles turned up at the edges, and some perforated tiles used by the Romans for the flues of hypocausts. These materials were taken indiscriminately to form the sepulchral chambers, as being doubtless most readily to hand.

The fourth tumulus remains as yet unexplored, but its hillock has been much lower at some former period. There can be little doubt I think but the Easlow range of tumuli constituted the family sepulchres of some distinguished Roman colonists of the Icenian territory. Nor could their villa be far distant, although all memory and vestiges of its precise locality have perished.
It is much to be regretted that the single coin deposited with the ashes in the third tumulus, to pay “the grim ferryman that poets write of”, had so completely perished by oxidation, this coin could otherwise have afforded some indication of the period when the sepulchre was formed. From the size of the piece, I should not think it to be of later date than Antoninus.

The sinking of these tombs below the original surface of the soil, the protection of each of them by a large sepulchral mound “sepulchrum ingento modi” are circumstances which correspond precisely with the funeral rites described in the sixth book of the Aeneid.

The most praiseworthy facility is afforded by P. Bennet, Esq., in giving access to these relics, for those who take an interest in such discoveries. It is perhaps somewhat to be regretted that the walls composing the brick chamber of the third tumulus were not suffered to remain undisturbed for a short period. The whole of the tiles with which it was built are now removed to Rougham Old Hall (S4).