Tumulus excavated in 1924 by Laver and which produced a rich Belgic burial with the remains of the metalwork of a funerary vehicle, bronzes, gold and silver objects and a coin with the head of Auguustus mounted as a medallion. The finds also include two bronze studs with red glass inlay . Various pottery finds date the burial (cremation) to just before the Roman conquest. There is a suggested ritual mutilation of the grave goods. <1> The burial mound is thought to be the that of Cunobelin and evidence suggests that it is surrounded by an extensive urnfield. An important group of Belgic pottery, palanquin metalwork, amphorae, sculptured bronzes and gold and silver objects was found in the excavtion. The mound still stands 1.5m high, is 30m in diameter and is possibly Bronze Age with a later, Iron Age burial within it; the latest excavation by Colchester Arch Trust was not conclusive on this point. <2> The round barrow, 9 feet high and 100 feet in diameter, was surrounded by a ditch 2.5-3 feet deep. A grave was found just west of the centre, dug 7 feet beneath the old ground surface. It had previouslt been disturbed but contained a rich burial group dated between 17BC and 43AD. The grave goods included traces of fine gold, a coin of Augustus mounted as a portrait medallion, chain mail, silver studs, iron swords, a number of bronzes including a boar and griffin, enammelled discs, the remains of a funeral carriage including a linch pin and a number of amphorae. The only actual evidence of interment were some small fragments from a cremation. A fragmentary bronze palstave apparently a votive object was also included. Hawkes considered that the pottery was only just pre-Roman and the sculptures comparable with Cunobelins coinage. He suggests that `the deceased who had been cremated with ritual mutilation of the grave goods... may well have been Cunobelin himself, or at least one of his family'.<3> ecent excavation has produced evidence to suggest that the principal grave was to be dated AD10 or earlier and that there were later secondary burials. Peacock dated it to the last 15 years BC. <4> A small part of the tumulus was excavated in 1973 in order to establish the original extent of the barrow. No evidence was found to suggest that the tumulus was Belgic and it is thus possible that the barrow is Bronze Age. <5> Photos in SMR. <6> Other refs. <7> - <13>
Scheduling revised April 2002. <14>

Site Assessment = Scheduled Ancient Monument at present in private garden. The mound is divided by a hedge, has several large pine trees and the northern part of the western half was cut into by building a bungalow. <1>