Monument record 1116 - Betchton Cremation Burial

A Bronze Age cremation burial was found at Betchton in June 1928, by Mr Yates on the south side of his newly-erected bungalow. Finds consisted of the upper portion of a cinerary urn, with a heavily projecting rim & angular shoulders. The inside & outside of the rim have impressed decoration. Rim 9.3-9.5 ins in diam, & shoulder 10.2 ins in diam. Also a small biconical incense cup, with a star pattern on the base, grooved decoration on the sides & 2 small holes pierced in the side. Cup 1.8-3.2 ins in diam & probably has Irish affinities. Also a curved & bluntly pointed bone pin, 3.2 ins long with a flat head & a large eyelet. Pin is calcined & broken in 2 parts. Also finds of small quantity of calcined human bones. Finds were found lying together in a compact mass, surrounded by some discoloured earth & not far below the surface. Site visited by R.Newstead & W.F.Irvine, but no trace of the burial was found. If there had been a mound, it has been ploughed away (1).

<1> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Newstead R 1939 33/40-44 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ75NE3/1960 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/15 Longley D 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 50/130 1934 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.9 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.