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New light on an old problem

Lexden has long been associated with the most important Roman burials in Colchester. In the 19th century, before much of present day Lexden was built, it was a favourite spot for pottery hunting with large areas being turned over in search of Roman burials. But these early archaeological excavations were poorly recorded, and they were carried out at a time when archaeological techniques were in their infancy and the serious study of ancient burial practices had barely begun. Surprisingly then, the recent opportunity to excavate a large area in Lexden and study it under controlled circumstances turned out to be a first.

In all, the recent dig resulted in the discovery of two pyre sites, fifty- one cremation burials and eight inhumation (unburnt) burials. A wide variety of cremations were revealed, mainly dated to the 1st or 2nd century AD but some belong to the later Roman period. Single urns containing the burnt human remains were the most common type. However some were more elaborate, featuring other additional vessels such as bowls, flagons and small beakers. `Busta'

The most exciting features were the remains of two `busta'. These are rarely recognised in Britain where they are generally associated with the army. A bustum was a type of cremation in which the cremated remains were left in a slot below the pyre. What remained of each was an oblong pit with reddened earth around the edge indicating that fires were lit over them. The relatives of the deceased would have erected a wooden pyre and placed the body on it. During the cremation the bone, pyre goods and what was left of the pyre would have slumped on to the ground and into the pit. Copper- alloy items were among some of the grave goods found in the scorched pits. These object must have been placed on the pyre with the deceased. The remains of both busta contained a coin. In the first, this was at the head end of the pit and is likely to have been placed in the dead person's mouth. The other pit contained a small spoon and a copper-alloy mirror which showed clear signs of fire damage and suggests that the deceased had been female. These items help us date both pyres to the 1st century AD.

Burning lamps

One type of grave good that is not that common in cremation burials but was frequently encountered on this site are lamps. In two examples there was quite extraordinary and compelling evidence that the lamps had been buried when lit.This was shown by the careful way in which large fragments of pots had been arranged in the grave pit to shield the lamps from the grave backfill. This suggests that they were there to provide light for the deceased person.

Two lamps which were lit when buried. In one, the lit wick was protected by the neck and rim of broken flagon set upright above it rather like a chimney. The wick of the other lamp was shielded by two large sherd of broken pottery.

Inhumations

The eight inhumation burials clustered in the northern part of the site and were buried at a deeper level than most of the cremations. No two inhumations were the same; the graves were in different positions and alignments and not all of those interred had been privileged to have been buried in a coffin. One individual was wearing a shale armlet which does not necessarily mean they were female. On another individual the outline of hobnailed boots could still be plainly seen on his feet. The cremations mainly date from the 1st to 2nd century, but dating the inhumations is problematic because the dating evidence is limited. Typically in Colchester, inhumations are 3rd or 4th century in date, but there is some limited evidence that this recently excavated group at Lexden may be 1st or 2nd century.

The investigation was funded by Vaughan and Blythe (Construction) Ltd.