Belgic Bronzes and Pottery found at Felmersham-on-Ouse, Bedfordshire

The find of pottery and bronzes described in this paper was made in Catuvellaunian territory (fig. 1), on the north bank of the Ouse near Felmersham Bridge, in Shanbrook parish, Bedfordshire. At this place the river makes a gentle bend southwards towards the village of Felmersham. Following the Belgic predilection for riverine settlement, the site to which the find belongs was established on well-developed flood-plain gravels situated on the inner margin of this curve. Here in January 1942, from the gravel-digging exploited by Mr. A. E. C. Howard of Bedford, the excavating machine simultaneously disgorged the following objects: A bronze bucket-handle and two bronze bucket-escutcheons in the shape of cow-heads (fig. 2). A bronze spout in the shape of a fish-head (fig. 3). A damaged bronze bowl (no. 1) with one of the two original attachments for holding swinging ring-handles (pl. VII, a, b ). Fragments of another bowl (no. 2), including parts of the rim and shoulder (pl. VII, c ). A flat plate of thin bronze, in shape the segment of a circle, with traces of solder on both sides (pl. VI, b ). Three pieces of curved bronze rim-mounting of U-section (pl. VI, a ). Three pieces of flat bronze ribbon and an irregular piece of bronze plate of the same thinness (pl. VI, a ). Some thirty potsherds, the lower jaw of a young pig, part of the tibia of another young animal, probably a horse, and some pieces of burnt clay (fig. 11 ).