Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows
Amesbury Barrows is in Stonehenge Barrows, Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury 42 Long Barrow [Map]
Amesbury 42 Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows, Stonehenge Long Barrows.
Amesbury 42 Long Barrow [Map] is a Long Barrow at the end of the Stonehenge Greater Cursus. It was noted by William Stukeley (age 35) in 1723 and Richard Colt Hoare 2nd Baronet (age 51) in 1810. It was excavated by John Thurnam in 1810 who recovered an Ox Skull and discovered secondary inhumations. The barrow is now levelled.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Amesbury. 42 [Map].1 Close to, and parallel with, the E. end of the c' Cursus," near Stonehenge, Length 265ft. (Thurnam) S. and N. Opened by Thurnam who regarded it as a true Long Barrow, but Hoare and Stukeley seem both to have thought otherwise. Stukeley shows it merely as a bank (Stonehenge Tab. Ill.). Hoare spoke of it thus "The head (of the Cursus),which is towards the east, is marked by a mound of earth, resembling a Long Barrow, which extends across the whole Cursus." The Cursus, Hoare regarded as the "Race course of the Britons," and on the mound he suggests the spectators were seated, and a more eligible post could not have been chosen." Thurnam never seems to have published any account of his discoveries in the mound, and the only mention of it is that in the Summary List in Arch. xlii., where it is stated that secondary burials, but no primary one, were found.
The following is an entry in the MS. Cat. "No. 234:- Ancient British. From a secondary interment in the Long Barrow at the east end of the Cursus' near Stonehenge. I see no reason to doubt this mound being a true Long Barrow, though like some others it lies N. and S., with the broadest end to the S. There are still traces of the ditch at each side. It measures 265ft. long, 55ft. to 70ft. broad, and 4ft. high. It is named by Sir R. C. Hoare as a mound resembling a Long Barrow.' The skeleton from which this brachycephalic calvarium was taken was lying within a foot of the present surface, about 50ft. from the southern skirt of the barrow. It was in the contracted posture, and close to it was the skeleton of an infant. The femur measured 17in., the humerus 12in., though the bones of the skull are very thick I think it female. The skull had been smashed, probably by the plough. Though great labour was bestowed upon it, the true primary interment was not found in the barrow. There were portions however of the skeleton of an infant about 3ft. (deep) and just over the dark stratum. About 21ft. (deep) were parts of the skeletons of at least three individuals of bos longifrons, consisting of several entire carpi and tarsi, every bone, down to the sesamoids, being in situ; and parts of a pelvis and of a skull of the same animal. The greater part of these were presented by me to the Museum of Anatomy, at Oxford. I retain one carpus and two tarsi, the bones of which were perfect enough to be articulated. They had evidently been cut off from the carcases with the hoofs and probably the enteguments entire, and thrown on the incomplete funeral mound, whilst the flesh was probably cooked and eaten on the occasion of a feast and sacrifice. Exhumed by J. T. (John Thurnam) March 29 and April 6, 1866."
This mound and the whole of the eastern part of the Cursus, is now, as it seems to have been in Thurnam's time, under cultivation; the mound is much lowered and scattered about, and no sign of the ditches referred to by Thurnam can now be seen on the surface. O.M. 54 SE.; Arch. xlii., 180, 182; A. w. 1. 158; MS Cat. No. 239.
Note 1. This is the mound referred to by Thurnam as "Stonehenge, Cursus." Arch. xlii. 180.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury 59 Long Barrow [Map]
Amesbury 59 Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Amesbury. 59 [Map]. N. of Amesbury-Andover Road, between New Barn and the second milestone out of Amesbury. Length 125ft; S.S.E. by N.N.W. No recorded opening. A fine barrow with ditches still traceable, but now under cultivation. There is a large round barrow almost touching its fringe at the northern end. O.M. 55 S W. Not shown by Hoare.
For two Long barrows, now destroyed, in Amesbury parish, see end of this list.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 12 G11a [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 12 G11a is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 12 [Map] is a group of small tumuli, in one of which, immediately under the turf, we found a very rude urn, badly baked, and containing ashes, burned bones, and two pieces of twisted brass wire, which probably once formed a ring: this urn was not inverted. We attempted to open another, but finding that, together with the remainder Of the group, it had been ploughed over, we gave up our researches, as, owing to the slight elevation of these barrows above the level of the ground, their contents would most probably have been destroyed by the continued operations of agriculture.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 13 G11e [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 13 G11e is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 13 [Map] is a Druid barrow, which contained a simple interment of burned bones.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 14 G1 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 14 G1 is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows.
It is a curious fact that Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map] is, within 0.2 of a degree of longitude, north of Stonehenge [Map] - see Five Wells Chambered Tomb and Stonehenge Alignment. Moreover, this line of longitude, give or take 500m, has the highest number of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Monuments on it when compared to other lines of longitude. North to South:
Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map]
Monkton Fields Long Barrow [Map]
Netheravon 6 Long Barrow [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 14 G1 [Map]
Colt Hoare 1812. The tumulus [Amesbury Barrow 14 G1 [Map]] nearest that place produced the largest sepulchral urn we have ever yet found, it measures fifteen inches in diameter at the top, and is 22½ inches high; it varies also most decidedly in shape and pattern from any others in our collection; on which account we have distinguished it by the name of the Stonehenge Urn. It contained an interment of burned bones, and was not inverted; but the deposit was secured by a large triangular stone, placed over the mouth of the urn. It is engraved in Tumuli Plate XVI. Two of these barrows are superior in size to the rest; the one nearest the road is large and bowl shaped; eighty feet in base diameter, and eight and a half in elevation, though it appears to be much higher. The men made a large section, supposing the interment would be found at a considerable depth, but they met with it at eight feet and a half, in a shallow oblong cist, where the burned bones had been interred in a box of wood. The adjoining large tumulus produced an interment by cremation, which had in former times been disturbed by rabbits. Some others of this group, though scarcely elevated above the ground, produced deposits of burned bones; in one of them, just under the turf, was found a brass spear head, and two of the others had been opened before.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Amesbury. 14 [Map]. On Normanton Down, No. 165 of Hoare's Normanton Group," close to S. side of road from Stonehenge to Winterbourne Stoke. Length IOOft.; S.S.E. by N. N.W. Opened by Hoare and Cunnington, who failed to find interments, and later by Thurnam,who found the primary burial of three skeletons, and some secondary burials, but beyond the reference in the summary list in Arch. xlii. no account of the discoveries seems to have been published3; in the MS. Cat. there are however, the following entries No. 240. From the small long barrow No. 165 of Hoare - this dolichocephalic skull was obtained in 1866 from the primary interment below a stratum of black earth on the natural level. The marks of cleavage on this. skull are very distinct. It is remarkable that there were no bones of upper or lower maxillæ, or any teeth."
240a. Ancient British. Part of calvarium, also with distinct marks of old cleavage found with portions of a third skull, apparently that of a child, close to No. 240. The upper and lower jaws found with it indicate an age of about 15 years. This sepulchral deposit was found nearer the centre of the mound than is usual in Long Barrows, and about 15ft. to the north of the opening made by Mr. Cunnington in 1808, and 20ft or more to the north of that made by myself in 1856. The impression made by the appearance of the deposit was that the bodies had been dismembered and the skulls more or less shattered and broken before their final interment in this place where they were found."
241. Ancient British. From the same barrow, about a foot beneath the surface and nearer to the S. end than Nos. 240 and 240a. No other part of the skeleton, nor even a trace of jaws or teeth, was found with the calvarium, which was of a dark earthy colour when found. It is probably Ancient British of the dolichocephalic Stone Age of Long Barrow type, and brought here after the partial completion of the tumulus."
242. Ancient British. From a secondary interment of a boy or girl, 12 or 15 years of age, l½ft. deep in the same barrow. The skeleton was doubled up, with head to thy south. There was no relic of art with the skeleton, but 2ft, deeper another and also brachycephalic skeleton, also doubled up. The skull was too imperfect to be preserved. There was likewise part of a tibia of Bos tongifrons, and an entire skeleton of a goose, all these above the stratum of black earth. Exhumed April 28th, 1866."
Mound and ditches in very fair condition, but both are now beginning to be attacked by rabbits. Turf. O.M. 54 SW.; A.W.I. 206; Arch. xlii. 180; MS. Cat. 240-2.
Note 3. This barrow is referred to by Thurnam as "Stonehenge No. 165" in the list of barrows opened by himself, but is not included in his list of those opened by Hoare and Cunnington. Arch. xlii. 180.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 15 G10 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 15 G10 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 15 [Map], is a Druid barrow, in which we found a deposit of burned human bones within a cist. It had been opened before, and some scattered fragments of bone, led us to suppose that a skeleton had been found, though the other interment had escaped unnoticed.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 16 G4 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 16 G4 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 16 [Map] is a mutilated flat barrow, 76 feet in diameter, and only 3 Feet in elevation. This appears to have been one of those opened by Dr. Stukeley, and thus mentioned by in his account of STONEHENGE (page 46). "And in a very great and old fashioned barrow, west from STONEHENGE, among such matters, I found bits of red and blue marble chippings of the stones of the temple; so that, probably, the interred was one of the builders." During our researches in this tumulus, we perceived that a long section had been made, and found the bones of two skeletons which had been interred in the floor, also several pieces of stag's horns, animal bones, kc. as well as some fragments of sarsen stones, similar to those which form the great trilithons of STONEHENGE. On clearing out the earth from this section, we observed a small heap of whiter soil, which having removed, we came to the primary interment of burned bones within a fine circular cist, and found a spear head of brass in fine preservation, and a pin of the same metal. It is somewhat singular, that these burned bones (a more than usual quantity) should have laid unmolested in barrow where there were a hundred rabbit holes. On removing the earth from over the cist, we found a large piece of one af the blue stones of Stonehenge, which Sowerby the naturalist calls a horn stone, which, with the sarsen stone, is a very singular occurrence, and decidedly proves that the adjoining temple was erected previous to the tumulus, Some persons acquainted with the soil in this part of Wiltshire, might think the finding of sarsen stones no uncommon event, and I should perhaps have thought the same, had these specimens been rounded by attrition; but the stones found within this barrow, are pieces chipped off, (l sorry to say) like those now daily knocked off from the great fallen trilithon. With regard to the blue stone, we are certain this species is not to be found in the southern district of Wiltshire. In opening the fine bell-shaped barrow N. E. of STONEHENGE, also found one or two pieces of the chippings of these stones, as well as in the wagon tracks round the area of the temple. These circumstances tend to give a much higher æra of antiquity to our celebrated building, than some antiquaries would be willing to allow, and evidently prove that at the period when the tumuli adjoining STONEHENGE were raised, the plain was covered with the chippings of the stones that had been employed in the formation of the stone circle.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 17 G10a [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 17 G10a is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 17 [Map] is a long barrow, in which we made no discovery.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 18 G5 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 18 G5 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 18 [Map] is injured by rabbits.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 19 G6 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 19 G6 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 19 [Map] seems to have been onc of those opened either by Lord Pembroke, or Dr. Stukeley, who had been successful in finding the interment in an oblong cist.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 20 G8 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 20 G8 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 20 [Map]. This barrow had been opened before, and contained the interment of a skeleton.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 21 G7 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 21 G7 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 21 [Map] and No. 22 [Map] were unproductive.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 22 G9 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 22 G9 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 21 [Map] and No. 22 [Map] were unproductive.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 23 G11 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 23 G11 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 23 [Map], Mr Cunnington attempted to explore this fine bell-shaped barrow some years ago, but was unsuccessful. On a second trial, I found that in his former operations he had left off a few inches of a large rude sepulchral urn inverted over a pile of burned bones, amongst which was an elegant pair of ivory tweezers.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 24 G39a [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 24 G39a is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 24 [Map] is a very flat barrow, in which were the skeletons of an adult and a child, deposited in a very shallow cist, and which had been disturbed by a prior opening.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 25 G40 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 25 G40 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 25 [Map] is a wide bowl-shaped barrow, in which we found, within a shallow cist, a skeleton with its head towards the north, and a drinking cup by its right side, and near it a neatly formed pin or needle of bone.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 26 G39 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 26 G39 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 26 [Map] is situated on the borders of the turnpike road, and produced a large interment of burned bones on the floor, with a cone of jet, two oblong beads of the same substance, eighteen of amber, and a very small cone of the same.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 27 G41 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 27 G41 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. From this camp, I shall direct my steps to the gap between the old and new King's barrows, near the former of which is a solitary tumulus, No. 27 [Map], which appeared to have had a prior opening, and to have contained originally, the skeletons of two adults, and two children. Round the arm one of the former was an ornamented bracelet of brass, which the labourers unfortunately trod upon, before they perceived it, and broke it into three pieces, but it has been repaired, and preserved in our Museum.
Wessex from the Air Plates 39 and 40. In the field to the right will be seen a large white spot surrounded by a darker band. It is a round barrow [Amesbury Barrow 27 G41 [Map]], opened by Sir Richard Colt Hoare. It had, he states, been opened before. It contained the skeletons of two adults and two children. Round the arm of one of the adults was the broad bronze bracelet here illustrated, now in the Devizes Museum. (See Ancient Wiltshire, i. 160, Amesbury, Barrow 27; Stourhead Catalogue, no. 160, p. 42; Archaeologia, xliii. 469, fig. 172; Evans, Anc. Bronze Implements, fig. 480.) Goddard’s reference number is ‘Amesbury 41’ (W.A.M. xxxviii. 168).
Above and to the right of the barrow are many circular rings and blobs, probably representing ploughed-out barrows. The sites might repay excavation, since the cists, dug below the surface level, might still be intact.
O.G.S. Crawford.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 28 G43 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 28 G43 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. [No. 28 [Map]]"In the year 1723, by Thomas Earl of Pembroke's order, I begun upon a barrow north of Stonehenge, in that group south of the Cursus. It is one of the double barrows there, and the more easterly and lower of the two; likewise somewhat less. It was reasonable to believe, thig was the sepulture of and that the lesser was the female; and so it proved; at man and his wife; least a daughter. We made a large cut on the top, from east to west, and after the turf was taken off, we came to the layer of chalk, then to fine garden mould. About three teet below the surface was a layer of flints, humouring the convexity of the barrow. These flints are gathered from the surface of the downs in some places, especially where it has been ploughed. This being about a foot thick, rested on a layer of soft mould another foot, in which was enclosed an urn full of bones. The urn was of unbaked clay, of a dark reddish colour, and crumbled into pieces. It had been rudely wrought with small mould5ngs round the verge, and other circular channels on the outside, with several indentures between, (see Plate XXXII. where have drawn things made with a pointed tool, found in this barrow.) The bones had been burned, and crowded all together in a little heap, not so much as a hat crown would contain. The collar-bone, and one side of the under-jaw, are graved in their true magnitude. It appears have been a girl of about 14 years old, by their bulk, and the great quantity of female ornaments mixed with the bones, all which we gathered. Beads of all sorts, and in great number, of glass of divers colours, most yellow, one black; many single, many in long pieces notched between, so as to resemble a string of beads, and these were generally of a blue colour. There were many of amber, of all shapes and sizes; flat squares, long squares, round, oblong, and great. Likewise many of earth, of different shapes, magnitude, and colour; some little and white, many large and flattish like a button, others like a pully; but all had holes to run a string through, either through their diameter, or sides. Many of the button sort seem to have been covered with metal, there being a rim worked in them, wherein to turn the edge of the covering. One of these was covered with a thin film of pure gold. These were the young lady's ornaments; and alt had undergone the fire, so that what would easily consume, fell to pieces as soon as handled; much of the amber was burned half through. This person was a heroine, for we found the head of her javelin in brass. At bottom me two holes for the pins that fastened it to the staff. Besides, there was a sharp bodkin, round at one end, square at the other, where it went into a handle. I still preserve whatever is permanent of these trinkets; but we recomposed the ashes of the illustrious defunct, and covered them with earth, leaving visible marks at cop, of the barrow having been opened, to dissuade any other from again disturbing them; and this was our practice in all the rest."
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 29 G44 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 29 G44 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. [No. 29 [Map]]. "Then we opened the next barrow to it, enclosed ill the same ditch, which we supposed the husband or father of this lady. At fourteen inches deep, the mould being mixed with chalk, we came to the entire skeleton of a man; the skull and all the bones exceedingly rotten, and perished through length of time; though this was a barrow of the latest sort, as we conjecture. The body lay north and south, the head to the north."
Not dissuaded by the external appearances, and convinced by experience that all interments found near the surface were subsequent deposits, Mr. CUNNINGTON, in 1803, explored the second tumulus, by making a section rather to the south of the centre, when at the depth of six feet, he came to the floor of the barrow, which was covered with ashes; and on digging still further to the south, he bund a fine oblong cist, about eighteen inches deep, fifteen-inches wide, and two feet long; and in it a complete interment of burned bones, and with them six beads apparently of horn, four of which were perforated; the other two were circular, and rather flat, but all appeared as though they had been burned. Dr. STUKELEY made the same observation respecting the articles found in the other barrow; but he must have been mistaken as to the amber, for we know that fire would entirely consume it.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 30 G45 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 30 G45 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 30 [Map]. A beautiful bell-shaped barrow, and the largest of this group. It measures in diameter from ditch to ditch one hundred and thirty-one feet, and fifteen feet in elevation. The superior size and beauty of this tumulus particularly excited our curiosity, and raised our expectations of success; but alas! after immense labour in throwing out the earth, to the depth of fifteen feet, we found only a simple interment of burned bones, unaccompanied by any urn, the relicts were piled up in a little heap upon the floor arms, or trinkets; where the body had been burned, and close to a small circular cist or cinerarium, which contained black ashes, intermixed with some small fragments of bone.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 31 G46 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 31 G46 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 31 [Map], a bowl-shaped barrow, one hundred and four Feet in base diameter, and seventy-one and a half in elevation, produced on its floor an interment of burned bones, with a small spear head:
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 32 G47 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 32 G47 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. and No. 32 [Map], a fine bell-shaped barrow, contained only a simple interment of burned bones.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 33 G48 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 33 G48 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 33 [Map], is a kind of Druid Barrow, present in an area of seventy-eight feet. diameter, surrounded by a fine vallum without the ditch, but having no elevation, as usual, in the centre. Deprived of this index to the place of interment, we expected much trouble in finding it; but our workmen luckily hit on the very spot; and at the depth of two feet, found a circular cist, containing a deposit of burned bones, together with a great many beads. Some of them were pully beads of glass, two of stone, another of a transparent horn-like substance; but the most were of amber, and much decayed.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 34 G49 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 34 G49 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 34 [Map] has had a prior opening; and in No. 35 [Map] we could not find the interment.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 35 G50 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 35 G50 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 34 [Map] has had a prior opening; and in No. 35 [Map] we could not find the interment.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 36 G51 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 36 G51 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 36 [Map]. The contents of this barrow, in some degree, recompensed us for our disappointment in the two last. It produced three human skeletons, laid from north to south, and immediately one over the other; the first about two feet deep; the second on a level with the adjoining soil. Close to the right side OF the head of this last skeleton was a drinking cup, and with it a considerable quantity of something that appeared like decayed leather. Six feet lower lay the third, with which was found the drinking cup, engraved in Tumuli Plate XVI. When throwing out the bones of this skeleton, we had a strong proof how well they are preserved when deposited deep in the chalk. as they would bear being thrown for a considerable distancc without breaking: the teeth were perfectly white, and not. one of them unsound; but the most remarkable circumstance was, finding a piece of the skull, about five inches broad, that had been apparently sawn off, for I do not think that any knife could have cut it off in the manner in which this was done.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 37 G62 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 37 G62 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 37 [Map]. In this barrow we found only a large oblong cist, fuli of black ashes, and a few burned human bones; and in No. 38 [Map], after much labour, we missed the interment.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 38 G53 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 38 G53 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 37 [Map]. In this barrow we found only a large oblong cist, fuli of black ashes, and a few burned human bones; and in No. 38 [Map], after much labour, we missed the interment.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 39 G54 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 39 G54 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 39 [Map] is a bowl-shaped tumulus, adjoining the south side. Of the CURSUS: is seventy-eight feet in diameter, and at this time nearly seven feet in elevation, although it has been some wears under tillage. This interesting barrow had experienced a prior, but a partial opening and one skeleton, with a drinking cup, had been disturbed, On reaching the floor, we discovered another skeleton, lying with its head due north, which, from the size of the bones, and the great quantity of beads attending the interment, we conceived to have been that of a female; and several of these being found near the neck, confirmed, in some degree, this opinion. Close to the head stood a kind of bason, neatly ornamented round the verge, but unfortunately broken into several pieces. On removing the head, we were much surprised to find chat it rested upon a drinking cop, that had been placed at the feet of another skeleton, and which was interred ill an oblong cist two deep, and lying also from north to south. With the drinking cup was a spear head of flint, and a singular stone.
In this tumulus, three persons were interred; the primary deposit must, of course, have been the skeleton lying in a cist, excavated within the chalk; the second was probably the wife of this person, lying with her head at his feet; and the third and last, might have been their son. The drinking cup found at the feet of the primary interment, is large, and holds more than a quart; resembles in form and manufacture many of the others; is made out of poor clay, intermixed with bits of chalk; yet it is profusely ornamented, and in a different style to any we have yet seen. How such a multitude of indentations could be put on the surface, while the clay retained its flexibility, is surprising; for it is very clear, that these ornaments were put on singly, and most probably by a bone instrument. The sharpness and nicety to which this spear head of flint, as well as the arrows of the same material, have been chipped, must also strike the attention of every observer. Yet we know them to have been made use of, by all barbarians, for destructive purposes. Neither must the aforementioned stone be passed over unnoticed; it is very neatly polished, feels silky, and, at. first sight, looks something like fossil wood: it is striped irregularly, with dark green and white, and its proportions will be ascertained by the annexed engraving, Plate XVII. which represents both the spear head and stone, of their natural size. Mr. CUNNINGTON thinks it is of that' species of stone called by KIRWAN, ligniformed asbestos, and that it may have been considered by the Britons as of high value, from its supposed virtues.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Amesbury Barrow 40 G55 [Map]
Amesbury Barrow 40 G55 is also in Stonehenge Bronze Age Barrows.
Colt Hoare 1812. No. 40 [Map], in point of size, may be called the monarch of the plain, being evidently the largest barrow upon it; and its history still remains veiled in obscurity. The first time we opened it by a very large section, and examined well the floor; but though we perceived symptoms of cremation, in charred wood, &c. we could not discover the primary interment. Nor were our subsequent researches more favourable, and we still remain in ignorance. Perhaps some future antiquary may be more fortunate; and such is the caprice of ancient sepulture, that the deposit may be föand near the top, as in the instance of our flint barrow at Kingston Deveril, (p. 47.)
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Knighton Long Barrow [Map]
Knighton Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows, Stonehenge Long Barrows.
Knighton Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1010052.
A large, impressive Long Barrow orientated east/west. The mound is c.60m long x 20m wide, and is flanked by ditches c.12m wide which are very deep and well defined. The overall width is c.44m.
It is a curious fact that Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map] is, within 0.2 of a degree of longitude, north of Stonehenge [Map] - see Five Wells Chambered Tomb and Stonehenge Alignment. Moreover, this line of longitude, give or take 500m, has the highest number of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Monuments on it when compared to other lines of longitude. North to South:
Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map]
Monkton Fields Long Barrow [Map]
Netheravon 6 Long Barrow [Map]
Knighton Long Barrow [Map]
Colt Hoare 1812. Iter IV. Starting once more From my head quarters at Amesbury, I shall direct my course towards KNIGHTON LONG BARROW [Map], which, from its elevated situation on a high ridge of land, rivals, if not surpasses, ELL BARROW in preminence of prospect, The first object of our attention: near a clump of trees called ROBIN HOOD BALL [Map], is one those ancient circles, which I have before mentioned and described in the Heytesbury Station, p. 80, This, like the generality of them, is placed on an elevated and commanding situation, but has this peculiarity, of having one circle within the other, with an entrance towards the north. We have to regret the great injury these circles have sustained by the plough, as in their original state they must have been highly curious, and are the more remarkable, from representing a double circle.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Figheldean. 27. "Knighton Barrow [Map],"1 on Knighton Down. Length 182ft.; E. and W. There seems to be no record of this barrow ever having been opened, but it looks as if it had been dug into in more than one place. Although not of great length this is a very fine barrow, and the most conspicuously situated of any in the county, being a landmark for many miles across the Plain in every direction. The mound is of great height and the ditches unusually deep and well defined. It has been much disfigured of late years by the military, who have chosen the southern ditch as a convenient spot in which to put a series of water tanks. O.M. 54 NE.; A. W. I. 175—6.
Note 1. Referred to by Stukeley as "North Long Barrow."
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Larkhill Long Barrow [Map]
Larkhill Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows, Stonehenge Long Barrows.
Larkhill Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1012167.
The monument includes a Long Barrow situated within Larkhill Camp, north of the Packway. The barrow mound, which is orientated north west - south east, is up to 1.1m high, 46m long and c.16m wide. Flanking the mound on the north east and south west sides are ditches visible as earthworks up to c.7m wide from which material was quarried during construction of the monument.
It is a curious fact that Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map] is, within 0.2 of a degree of longitude, north of Stonehenge [Map] - see Five Wells Chambered Tomb and Stonehenge Alignment. Moreover, this line of longitude, give or take 500m, has the highest number of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Monuments on it when compared to other lines of longitude. North to South:
Five Wells Chambered Tomb [Map]
Monkton Fields Long Barrow [Map]
Netheravon 6 Long Barrow [Map]
Larkhill Long Barrow [Map]
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Durrington. 24. [Larkhill Long Barrow [Map]]. On Durrington Down, S.S.W. of Knighton Long Barrow [Map], within a few feet, and N. of, the new military cross-road from Lark Hill to the Devizes —Salisbury Road. Length 142ft.; S.E. and N.W. There is no record of any opening of this barrow. It is planted with trees, and now stands in the middle of a military camping ground, and is in a poor state of preservation. The ditch on the northerly side is still discernible, but that on the other side has been disfigured and obscured by sheds erected by the military. O.M. 54 SW. Not shown by Hoare.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Winterbourne Stoke Crossroads Long Barrow [Map]
Winterbourne Stoke Crossroads Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows, Stonehenge Long Barrows.
Winterbourne Stoke Crossroads Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1011841.
The monument includes a Long Barrow north east of Winterbourne Stoke crossroads, situated on a south west-north east ridge and having extensive views to the south east across Wilsford Down and Normanton Down. The long barrow is orientated south west-north east along the ridge and forms the origin and focal point of a linear round barrow cemetery which extends some 500m along the ridge to the north east and contains a total of 22 round barrows. The barrow mound is 95m in length, 22m wide, and 2.5m high. It is flanked on the north west and south east by ditches running the length of the mound from which material was quarried during its construction. The north west ditch is 1m deep and c.8m wide. The south east ditch is visible in part, having become largely infilled over the years, but its full width is visible as a vegetation mark on aerial photographs from which it is calculated to be c.10m wide. The long barrow is therefore 95m long and 40m wide. Partial excavation in the 19th century revealed a primary male inhumation with a flint implement, and six secondary inhumations with a plain food vessel 0.75m from the top of the mound.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Winterbourne Stoke Long Barrow [Map]
Winterbourne Stoke Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows, Stonehenge Long Barrows.
Winterbourne Stoke Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1015021.
The monument includes a Long Barrow orientated east - west situated on a downland spur 180m south of the A360 on Winterbourne Stoke Down. The mound is 43m long. A 36m length of the mound survives as a visible earthwork which varies in height from 1.5m high at the western end to c.1m at the eastern end. Beyond this the remainder of the mound is visible as a slight rise in the field surface. The mound is 17m wide and is flanked on either side by a ditch up to 5m wide; that on the south side is visible as a shallow depression. The north western ditch survives as a buried feature. A part excavation by Cunnington in the early 19th century produced a cremation covered with flints and two deep cists containing wood ash and charcoal. The long barrow lies within a levelled field system which has not been included in the scheduling.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge Landscape, Stonehenge Barrows, Amesbury Barrows, Woodhenge Long Barrow [Map]
Woodhenge Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows.
Woodhenge Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1009130.
The monument includes a levelled long barrow aligned north east-south west located some 450m WSW of Woodhenge on Countess Farm and situated on a west facing slope. The barrow is now difficult to identify on the ground. However, the ditches which flank the mound of the long barrow on its western and eastern sides, from which material was quarried during its construction, survive as buried features and are visible as parchmarks. These are represented on a parchmark survey carried out in 1990 from which the overall length of the long barrow can be calculated to be 40m and the overall width 28m.