The three barrows seen on this plate lie 1,200 yds. south-west of Stonehenge. Bush Barrow is the one on the right, still covered, as in Colt Hoare's time, with bushes. The name goes back at least to, the beginning of the eighteenth century, for Stukeley (Stonehenge, 1740, Plate XXXIII) gives a picture of it, and describes it (p. 46) as 'a barrow planted by the shepherds'. His illustration shows nine young trees in a row on the top of the barrow, and a hurdle fence of peculiar plan in front. The plantation was evidently then of recent date, but its purpose remains unexplained. The barrow was opened in September 1808, and the following account is given by Sir Richard Colt Hoare (Ancient Wiltshire, 1812, i. 202-4):¹

‘ The first attempts made by Mr. Cunrdngton on this barrow proved unsuccessful, as also those of some farmers, who tried their skill in digging into it. Our researches were renewed in September 1808.... On reaching the floor of the barrow, we discovered the skeleton of a tall and stout man, lying from south to north; the extreme length of his thigh bone was 20 in. About 18 in. south of the head, we found several brass, [sic, for 'bronze’] rivets intermixed with wood, and some thin bits of brass [sic, for 'bronze’] nearly decomposed. These articles covered a space of 12 in. or more; and it is probable, therefore, that they were the mouldered remains of a shield. Near the shoulders lay the fine celt [Fig. 45, a], the lower end of which owes its great preservation to having been originally furnished with a handle of wood. Near the right arm was a large dagger [Fig. 45, b] of brass [sic, for ‘bronze’], and a spearhead [Fig. 45, c] of the same metal, full 13 in. long, and the largest we ever found.... These were accompanied by a curious article of gold [Fig. 45, d] which I conceive had originally decorated the case of the dagger. The handle of wood belonging to this instrument [Fig. 45, b] exceeds anything we have yet seen, both in design and execution, and could not be surpassed (if indeed equalled) by the most able workman of modern times. By the annexed engraving you will immediately recognize the British zig-zag or the modern Vandyke pattern which was formed with a labour and exactness almost unaccountable, by thousands of gold rivets, smaller than the smallest pin. The head of the handle though exhibiting no variety of pattern, was also formed by the same kind of studding. So very minute indeed were these pins, that our labourers had thrown out thousands of them with their shovels, and scattered them in every direction, before, by the necessary aid of a magnifying glass, we could discover what they were, but fortunately enough remained attached to the wood to develop the pattern. Beneath the fingers of the right hand lay a lance head of brass [sic, for ‘bronze’], but so much corroded that it broke to pieces on moving. Immediately over the breast of the skeleton was a large plate of gold [Fig. 46, e] in the form of a lozenge, measuring 7 in. by 6 in. It was fixed to a thin piece of wood, over the edges of which the gold was lapped; it is perforated at the top and bottom, for the purpose probably of fastening it to the dress as a breastplate..., We next discovered, on the right side of the skeleton, a very curious perforated stone [Fig. 46, f], some wrought articles of bone, many small rings of the same material [Fig, 46, g], and another article of gold [Fig. 46, h]. The stone... had a wooden handle which was fixed into the perforation in the centre, and encircled by a neat ornament of brass [sic, for ‘bronze'], part of which still adheres to the stone... (Ancient Wilfshire, 1812, i. 203-4, Plates XXVI, XXVII)

Note 1. The objects found are here illustrated from fresh drawings specially made by Mr. Waterhouse, by kind permission of the Wiltshire Archaeological Society, in whose Museum at Devizes they are now exhibited.