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The Hinxton Rings – A Late Iron Age Cemetery at Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, with a Reconsideration of Northern Aylesford-Swarling distributions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

J.D. Hill ,
Christopher Evans ,
Mary Alexander ,
C. Eden  and
C.A. Shell
J.D. Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities, British Museum, London WC1B 3DG
Christopher Evans
Affiliation:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge CB2 3DZ
Mary Alexander
Affiliation:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge CB2 3DZ
C. Eden
Affiliation:
91 Kimberley Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0UB
C.A. Shell
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge CB3 3DZ
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Abstract

The excavation of a 1st century BC cremation cemetery having ring-ditch surrounded interments is reported. One of its two richly accompanied burials included an unparalleled drapery-cast stud/knob – an extraordinary object found within a cemetery with uniquely delineated graves. Given its location on the northern fringe of the distribution of Aylesford-Swarling cremation burials, the site prompts questions of core/periphery interrelationships, regionally and group definition.

Résumé

On rend compte de la fouille d’un cimetière à incinération du 1er siècle avant J.-C. qui comporte des sépultures encerclées par un fossé. Une de ces deux sépultures avec riche mobilier contenait un bouton/clou dans un arrangement de draperie sans pareil - un objet extraordinaire trouvé dans un cimetière avec des tombes délimitées d’une manière unique. Compte-tenu de sa situation sur la bordure nord de la distribution des sépultures à crémation de Aylesford-Swarling, le site incite à se poser des questions sur les interconnections entre le centre et la périphérie, et sur la définition de régionalité et de groupe.

Zusammenfassung

Es wird über die Ausgrabung eines Brandgräberfeldes aus dem 1. Jahrhundert BC berichtet, das mit Ringgräben umgebene Bestattungen aufweist. Eines seiner zwei reich ausgestatteten Gräber enthielt einen stoffüberzogenen Knopf/Knauf, der bisher keine Parallelen hat - ein außergewöhnliches Objekt, das in einem Gräberfeld mit einzigartig gestalteten Gräbern gefunden worden ist. Betrachtet man die Lage des Gräberfeldes am nördlichen Rand der Verbreitung der Aylesford-Swarling Brandgräber, führt diese Fundstelle zu Fragen von Kern-Peripherie-Beziehungen, Regionalität und Gruppendefinition.

Résumen

Este trabajo informa sobre la excavación de un cementerio de incineraciones del siglo I a.C. en el que los enterramientos estan rodeados por fosos circulares. Una de las dos tumbas ricas de este cementerio incluía una tachuela/pomo fundida con colgaduras sin paralelos – un objeto extraordinario encontrado en un cementerio con tumbas delimitadas también especiales. Dada su posición en el extremo norte de la distribución de enterramientos por incineración de Aylesford-Swarling, el sito provoca una serie de preguntas sobre las interrelaciones entre centro y periferia, regionalismo y definición de grupos.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 65 , 1999 , pp. 243 - 273
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1999

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