Denton, three short cists

In 1813 or 1814, just over a quarter of a mile south-west of the Roman Wall, Edward Woodhouse raised a large stone which had obstructed the plough. Beneath it he found "three enclosures, about two feet in length, and from twelve to eighteem inches in breadth". Each was composed of four stones set on edge, the longest stones set SW-NE, and they were separated from one another by spaces about 12 inches wide filled with rubble. In the East cist were calcined bones, and in the centre one a food vessel containing ash. The vessel was later described as a bipartite vase in buff fabric, 11.5 cm high x 15.3 cm rim diam x 7.7. cm base diameter. The exterior is decorated all over with combed pseudo maggots arranged herringbone fashion. The bottom of the vessel was about the same depth as the edge stones; the remaining space within being filled up with very fine soft yellow sand, almost to the surface. The pot was donated to the Society of Antiquaries in Jan. 1815.