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#ThrowbackThursday – Lexden Tumulus
01
Feb
Feb
This #ThrowbackThursday we are exploring one of the most remarkable and evocative graves found in Colchester: that of Lexden Tumulus, to the west of Colchester city centre.
Excavated in 1924, the burial mound was found to contain a Late Iron Age cremation with a vast collection of fine artefacts including a figurine of a boar, a folding stool and a coin of Augustus reused as a medallion, possibly reflecting strong political connections between Britain and the Roman Empire at this time.
Of particular significance was the finding of a Middle Bronze Age axehead, which would have been ancient even when it was placed into the grave. The axehead had been intentionally damaged, suggesting that it was ritually destroyed and decommissioned from use in the world of the living. A prized keepsake?
The grave has been dated to 15-10 BC, about 50-60 years before the Roman Conquest. Philip Crummy has proposed that the grave belongs to Addedomarus, tribal king of the Trinovantes who is known to have ruled Camulodunum and died around this time. His presence in the tumulus would be ground-breaking if true, as the burial of a king would place Colchester at the centre of Iron Age power in this part of south-east Britain at the time.
Today Lexden Tumulus sits within two gardens of existing homes. Imagine living with an Iron Age king in your garden!
For more information, check out the CAT report here: http://cat.essex.ac.uk/reports/CAR-report-0011.pdf
Written by work experience student Alex.
