Lexden Tumulus

The Lexden Tumulus is one of the best known and richest burial mounds in Britain. It dates from around 15 BC, in the Late Iron Age. 

When the burial mound was excavated in the early 1920s by Philip and Henry Laver, they found a large pit containing the cremated remains of an adult male who died at around 40 years of age. Buried alongside him was a rich assemblage of grave goods including chain mail, a folding stool, a Middle Bronze Age copper alloy axe head wrapped in cloth, rare figurines, 17 amphorae and a silver medallion of Augustus. 

One possibility is that this is the grave of Addedomarus, one of the kings of Camolodunum before the Romans arrived.

The site of the Lexden tumulus is privately owned, but many of the grave goods are on display in Colchester Castle.