The Celtic World (Routledge Worlds)

LA TENE III

CREMATIONS

Chapter Twenty-Six -

I

land ove' 400 ft

SINGLE GRAVE

GROUP OF GRAVES

WELWYN GRAVE

known probable

• 
  


• ...

o

o

IJ.

Figure 26.4 Distribution of Aylesford-Swarling cremations in south-eastern England. (After
Whimster 1981: fig. 52.)

one to five pots or La Tene bow brooches, usually interpreted as belonging to a
wealthier social group. In addition there are burials in wooden staved buckets, often
provided with other valuable objects including imports. At the apex of this apparent
pyramid is the Welwyn burial class, of unurned remains accompanied by an extra-
ordinary range of imported amphorae, and bronze and silver vessels indicative
of drinking and feasting, plus many items of locally produced wealth. More
subtle variations in the size of grave pits, placement of remains within the pits, and
distribution of goods within cemeteries may be suspected (e.g. Fitzpatrick 1991).
The King Harry Lane cemetery of 472 excavated burials is undoubtedly a major
new source of information for study. This is interpreted as the cemetery for a stable
population of about 200 people. However, the excavated sample is biased 3 to I in
favour of males, and as usual contains very few pre-adults. This skewed sample is
explained as a result of adoption of the rite by a particular (male-dominated) social
group, later widened to include women and children in the Roman period. While
this is certainly possible, it does reflect other peculiarities of the overall tradition.
The vast majority of Aylesford cemeteries are clusters of less than a dozen burials,
which cannot possibly represent stable populations. The Aylesford rite as presently
documented appears to be one adopted by a social minority.