Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Golden Barrow aka Upton Lovell 2e [Map]

Golden Barrow aka Upton Lovell 2e is in Upton Lovell, Wiltshire [Map], South England Bronze Age.

Golden Barrow aka Upton Lovell 2e [Map]. Bronze Age Barrow containing a rich collection of artefacts including:

[All information and photos sourced from Wiltshire Museum]

Amber spacer-plate necklace. This necklace was once made of around 1,000 amber beads, but now just over 300 survive. The flat 'spacer-plates' were drilled to hold the six strings of beads in place. Detailed examination suggests that the beads may have been from two necklaces. The necklace may have been made in Denmark or on the Baltic Coast. Necklaces with similar 'spacer-plates' have been found that are made of jet, which comes from Whitby. This suggests that this style of necklace was also made in Britain, using local materials.

Gold plaqueMade from gold sheet less than 0.1mm thick, originally it was fixed to a backing, probably of wood. The plaque would have been sewn to an item of clothing, perhaps a cloak.

Gold drum-shaped beads. These eleven beads may have been part of a necklace or were possibly sewn onto clothing as decoration. They were made from coiled strips of gold with a gold cap at each end.

Gold caps. May have once decorated the ends of wooden staffs or sceptres.

Incense 'grape cup'. These miniature pottery vessels were specially made to be used in funeral ceremonies and were placed in cremation burials, usually of women. These may have been fired on the funeral pyre and used to burn scented plants, hallucinogens or oils during a funeral ceremony. Holes in the side allowed the fragrant smoke to escape into the air.

Shale pendant and gold cover. Cone-shaped shale pendant, decorated with incised lines. The cone was encased in gold sheet, decorated with the same incised lines.

Archaeologia Volume 15 Section XI Page 128. Description of the opening of Golden Barrow aka Upton Lovell 2e [Map] by William Cunnington (age 51).

Archaeologia Volume 15 Section XI Page 126. Description of the opening of Golden Barrow aka Upton Lovell 2e [Map] by William Cunnington (age 51).