The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

Vampobirt.

A LTON.

811(01MAR DISCOViRY or HOMAN REMAIN&
C.,nsidersbla excitement has just been caused by the
dvicov, ry near Alton, nod le tween that place and
Farnham, of curious ertlueological remain; consist-
ing chietly of human and other bones, and imple-
inents of war, which for their unusual quantity and
, strange combination are likely to test the knowledge
of the antiquary, and to open up • wide and interest-
, ing field /or discussion as to the period to which
they belonged, and the reason for interment in a
, spot which centurne ago formed part of an extensive
forest, and could only have been at that time a
gloomy and secluded retreat. The place of sepulture
was discovered by some men digging for gnvel, in •
field adjoiniug the turnpike.rosd, belonging to Mei.
Glendenning, of Ent Oatley Vale, who immediately
on bearing of the discovery, canoed the place to be
carefully explored, and the result has been that
portions of no less than ten skeletons have been
excavated, together with several braes and iron orna-
ments, the ribs and head of a horse, several arrow-
heads of iron or steel, and four swords with
cross hilts, one of which is broken. There was also
a monde, or horse necklace, consisting of 120 beads,
of °pained glass. The whole of the remains were
evidently deposited without any regard to order. and
nothing whatever existed to warrant the supposition
that the human bones had at any time been enclosed.
It is supposed with some degree of reason, that they
were placed together in a large pit, which must have
been about six feet in depth. On being exposed to the
air the bones crumbled to duet. Several conjectures
are afloat respecting the remains, but in the &beeper of
any authentic records they are generally of an unsatis-
factory character. The owner of the field. Mr. Glen-
denning, has since communicated with Dr. Arthur
Fitzgerald (well known in the neighbourhood for his
antiquarian knowledge and researches), to whose in-
spection the articles have been submitted; and that
gentleman has unhesitatingly pronounced them to be-
long to the thirteenth century, probably about the
reign of Henry 111. or his sueceesor. This conclusion
renders the discovery one of a most remarkable and
interesting description, for although no record exists
of any conflict in the locality which might at once
account for the number of skeletons, yet it is •
singular (*incidence that the celebrated robber, Adam
Gurdeen, took up his abode about this Otos after
having been disinherited and outlawed, with other
adherenA of Simon, Earl if Leicester, for refusing
submission to King Henry 'IL The spot, moreover,
;teen in • great measure with the description of the I
rendezvous of the outlawed knight, which was •
woody height in • valley neer the road, between the '
town of Alton and the castle of Farnham. It was
here that Ourdeen, in 1267, withdrew with his men,
infesting the country with rapine, and especially
Preying on the lands of those who had adhered to the
king. Further excavations are being carried out,
which may tend to throw more light upon the ex-
traordinary discovery which has just been made.