Fin Cop, Derbyshire [Map]. Historic England 1011205

Fin Cop is a steep-sided promontory situated on the western edge of Longstone Moor on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument occupies the north-west corner of the promontory, overlooking Monsal Dale to the north and Wye Dale to the west. It includes a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age promontory fort and, within the area covered by the fort, an Early Bronze Age bowl barrow and an eighteenth century limekiln with an attached limestone quarry. The promontory fort comprises a level sub-rectangular area defined on the north and west sides by the steep scarps above the two dales and on the east and south sides by earthwork defences. Starting on the edge of Monsal Dale to the north, these defences extend southwards for 225m then curve south-west for a further 160m before ending on the edge of Wye Dale. From this point, a linear feature extends northwards back to the edge of Monsal Dale and is interpreted as the site of the timber palisade that would have enclosed the fort on this side. It consists of a low bank with a narrow berm or terrace to the west and then a slight counterscarp bank. It appears, wholly or partly, to have utilised a natural break in the limestone outcrop. The earthwork defences round the landward edge of the fort consist, for the northernmost 180m, of a bank, ditch and counterscarp bank, then, for the rest of the circuit, of a bank or rampart only. The more massive inner bank is currently c.5m wide by 1.5m-2m high, the ditch is c.3m wide by 1m-1.5m deep and the counterscarp bank is c.2m wide by 1m high. Although no longer visible, it is likely that the ditch extended round the southern section of the rampart and has become silted up and levelled by ploughing since the fort was abandoned. Together with the remains of the counterscarp bank, it will survive as a buried feature and is included within the scheduling. A gap in the double bank and ditch on the east side indicates the original entrance into the fort. Near the western edge of the fort, just north of the eighteenth century quarry, are the ploughed over remains of an earlier Bronze Age bowl barrow. The barrow was quarried for its stone in the late eighteenth century, possibly to feed the adjacent lime kiln. Subsequently, in 1795, it was partially excavated by Rooke. His discoveries included a rock-cut grave built up with stone and covered by a capstone. Inside was a disarticulated skeleton accompanied by two flint arrowheads. Elsewhere in the mound, he found a dry-walled cist, or grave, containing the remains of a cremation, while, on the south-east side three pottery 'urns' were discovered, one of which has since been identified as a ceremonial food vessel. These contained further cremations and one of the 'urns' also contained an arrowhead. Two further inhumations were found on the east side of the mound. In its present disturbed condition, the barrow has a diameter of 24m by 23m and a height of c.0.5m though, originally it would have been between 1m and 2m high. Roughly 20m to the south is an eighteenth century lime kiln set in its own small quarry. The kiln is of the type known as a 'double pye-kiln'. The modern field walls crossing the monument are excluded from the scheduling though the ground beneath is included.

Ballidon Moor. On the 30th of July we opened a fine bowl-shaped tumulus [Blackstone's Low [Map]], 15 yards across, situated on Ballidon Moor. The upper part, to the depth of two feet was almost entirely of earth, near the centre presenting the appearance of having been tempered. In this stratum were a few calcined bones, and fragments of a rude urn. Immediately beneath was an accumulation of stones, large and small, forming the base of the mound, which was raised on a rocky and uneven surface, which caused the thickness of the substructure of stone to fluctuate between two feet and a yard. The limestone employed being of a friable nature had become so far decomposed as to yield sufficient sand to choke up the interstices.

After noticing the trifling remains exhumed from the upper bed of earth, we observed nothing until arriving at the sandy stone, amongst which were four skeletons that might have been slightly disturbed before, but from their contracted posture and decayed condition it was difficult to decide, with respect to three of them, whether they had or not; the fourth had certainly been either disturbed at the interment of the others, or had been buried as a skeleton whilst the bones were fresh, as all parts of the skeleton had been collected and the long bones laid side by side. The latter were still unbroken, and it is obvious that they must have been thus arranged while retaining much of their natural strength, had it been otherwise they would have been broken by the stones with which they were in contact. This skeleton was nearer the centre than the others, and a very few inches beyond it we first observed a well-defined stratum of burnt earth, with a layer of pure charcoal above it, interposed between the upper bed of earth and the sandy stone. Pursuing this favourable indication we discovered, almost simultaneously, two very interesting interments which were found by extending the cutting a little beyond the middle of the barrow. The most ancient was about five feet below the summit in a depression in the rock, which was converted into a neat lozenge-shaped cist by four flat stones placed on edge; it was the skeleton of a middle aged man in unusually flne preservation, who lay with the knees drawn up, contrary to the usual custom on his right: side his femur measures 18.6 inches; he was accompanied by one poor flint only, suited to point an arrow. The skull, in perfect preservation, has been engraved in the Crania Britannica, it is chiefly distinguished by the rugged or strongly marked character of the facial bones, and has an internal capacity of 74½ ounces; the nasal bones have been fractured, and re-joined during life, and the teeth were much worn down. The cranium is considered by the learned authors of the Crania Britannica, as a typical example of the brachy-cephalic variety of the Ancient British head, and is engraved as such in Dr. Meigs' Cranial Characteristics of the Races of Men, Philadelphia, 1857.

While taking up this skeleton we met with a large flat stone lying aslant, with its lowest edge within the cist; this was moat likely the cover which had given way; the upper end was embedded in stones and burnt sand, interspersed with partially calcined human bones, and others in their natural state; among the latter were some remains of an infant; close above stood a large cinerary urn in an upright position, containing calcined human bones, and protected from superincumbent pressure by a large stone resting at each end upon an upright slab. The urn, 11½ inches high and 9 diameter at the mouth, is ornamented by patterns impressed from a twisted thong, and is in fine preservation, having been found perfect. The bones within it were beautifully coloured by burning, and perfectly clean; amongst them we found a piece of an animal's jaw, rats' bones, a fine bone pin 4 inches long, a fragment of thin pottery, and a flint arrow head, all (including the rats' bones) much burnt. The presence of partially burnt human bones in the sand, the discoloration of the latter, and the occurrence of calcined rats' bones in the urn, demonstrate the fact of the corpse having been consumed upon the spot. The section will render the arrangement of the interments in this curious barrow easily understood.

Derbyshire Archaeological Journal Volume 30 1908 Page 155. [Fol.4r.] "Memorandum. Opening of Haddon barrow [Map], June 1^st 1824¹.

"With the permission and kind assistance of Dr. Ewer Colie Esq^r, I opened the barrow situate on the hill above the Eastern bank of the river Lathkill in Haddon pasture, in the County of Derby which, having been disturbed some years before with the view of procuring stone to build the adjoining fences, had been found to contain human bones, &c. The men who were employed on that occasion, broke into a vault or coffin walled round with loose stone, containing two human bodies, together with a rude urn of unbaked clay, and about 30 Roman coins (one Gallienus) now deposited in Haddon Hall, on finding which they were ordered to desist from their search.

"On the 2nd attempt to open it, I ordered a trench to be cut from the N.W. boundary to the centre, as well as an excavation to be made in the place where the vault was originally broken into. We discovered the vault marked out by stones rudely piled together on each side, and at the ends, which pointed about S.W. and N.E., the head of the skeleton² lying at the N.E. end of it. Among the rubbish we discovered many human bones, fragments of bones, some pieces of calcined bones, with several Roman coins. The teeth of a dog, and a number of heads and bones of rats and other small animals were discovered here and in other parts of the mound. In the section from N.W. the mound was found full of stones, which seemed to extend through the whole barrow. Among these stones, which were intermixed with earth, we discovered, about 3 yds. from the centre of the tumulus, a quantity of scattered Roman coins, to the number of 70³, with some pieces of lead ore, and a portion of glass, which seemed to have formed part of an urn of the same material. The decayed remains of an oaken board⁴, of about ¾in. thick, were found near the centre of the mount. We couid not discover any other vault than the one described, in the whole tumulus. From the fragrnents found in this excdvation, as well as the former, there must have been at least 4 earthen urns deposited in the barrow⁵. The coins found were Urbs Roma, one; Constantius, 9; Constantinus, 9; Constantinopolis, 2; Constans, 17; Valentinianus, 5; Valens, 12; Gratianus, 3; and the remainder iliegible. The mound was about 6o ft. in diameter and elevated 4 feet from the level of the ground. I have no doubt of its being constructed in the reign of the emperor Gratian, who was assassinated in the year 383⁶."

Note 1. Vestiges, p. 30, but the date given as May 31st, 1824, and without any mention of Mr. Mitchell or Dr. Colie.

Note 2. Vestiges, "the bodies were laid with their heads towards the north-east."

Note 3. Ibid. "eighty-two (quere 71)."

Note 4. Ibid. "traces of decayed wood" in the vault.

Note 5. These are said to have been in the vault, Vestiges.

Note 6. The mound, of course, was much more ancient, and the coins part of a hoard hidden in it at the time of Gratian or later. Derbyshire has supplied many instances of Neolithic and Bronze age barrows, which received at later periods deposits, sepulchral or otherwise.

Brushfield. On the 3rd of August, we opened a finely shaped barrow [High Field Hlaew [Map]] near Brushfield, upon Lapwing HiU, overlooking Cressbrook valley, measuring seventeen yards across and four feet high in the centre, composed of earth, with a few stones in the middle, where a shallow grave, about a foot deep, was sunk in the rock. In it lay extended the remains of a human body, so very much decayed as to be almost undistinguishable, but which we ascertained to have been deposited with the head to the west. Beneath the remnants of bone were many traces of light-coloured hair, as if from a hide, resting upon a considerable quantity of decayed wood, indicating a plank of some thickness, or the bottom of a coffin. At the left of the body was a long and broad iron sword, enclosed in a sheath made of thin wood covered with ornamented leather.

Under the hilt of the sword, which like most of ancient date is very small, was a short iron knife; and a little way above the right shoulder were two small javelin heads, 4½ inches long, of the same metal, which had lain so near each other as to become united by corrosion. Among the stones which filled the grave, and about a foot from the bottom, were many objects of corroded iron, including nine loops of hoop iron about an inch broad, which had been fixed to thick wood by long nails; eight staples or eyes, which had been driven through plank and clenched; and one or two other objects of more uncertain application, all which were dispersed at intervals round the corpse throughout the length of the grave, and which may therefore have been attached to a bier or coffin in which the deceased was conveyed to the grave, possibly from some distant place. The only specimen of a Saxon sword, which was the weapon of the thegn, previously found in this part of Derbyshire, was singularly enough found with the umbo of a shield on the same farm in 1828; thus indicating the connection of a noble Saxon family with Brushfield in the age of Heathendom, the name of which is perpetuated in a document of the 16th century, preserved in the British Museum¹.

Note 1. Mortgage of Lands in Little Longsdon, Monsall Dale, and Brighterighefield (Brightric's Field,) otherwise Brushefielde, between Thomas Shakerley of Derby and Rowland Eyre of Hassoppe; dated May. 37th Elizabeth. B. Mus: Additional MSS. 6702. fol 45.

Section I Tumuli 1844. June the 10th, 1844, was opened a barrow [Map] upon Elton Moor, for which there is no distinctive name; it was on this occasion divided into four quarters by our sections, which left very little of the mound unexplored. In the usual central situation was found a previously-disturbed interment, accompanied by a large arrow- or spear-head of flint, a piece of a small urn neatly ornamented, and some animal teeth. On the southern side of the tumulus another interment was discovered, about eighteen inches below the natural surface of the land upon which the barrow was constructed; this skeleton was certainly that of an aged person, the teeth being much worn down; near the head was a piece of spherical iron pyrites, now for the first time noticed as being occasionally found with other relics in the British tumuli. Subsequent discoveries have proved that it was prized by the Britons, and not unfrequently deposited in the grave along with the weapons and ornaments which formed the most valued part of their store; even to the present day, the same mineral is used as a personal decoration by some tribes of the South American Indians. In the rear of the skeleton was a neatly-ornamented drinking-cup, which had been crushed by the weight of the soil, with which it had in a great degree become incorporated; within this cup the following odd assemblage of articles were placed: three quartz pebbles, one of which is red, the other two of a light colour; a flat piece of polished iron ore, a small celt of flint, with the peculiarity of having a round polished edge, instead of a cutting one as is usual; a beautifully-chipped cutting tool, twenty-one circular instruments almost all neatly chipped, and seventeen pieces, or rude instruments, all of flint, which had been turned to a delicate white or gray by calcination. Scattered about in the immediate neighbourhood of this interment were a good many pieces of burnt bones, not sufficient in quantity to compose a complete deposit, and a few rats' bones as usual.

Archaeologia Volume 12 Section I. About a mile South of the above-mentioned valley, on a rising ground near Hopton, is a very large barrow called Abbot’s Low [Map], the circumference of which is 196 feet. As the labourers were preparing this for a plantation, they discovered an urn, which Mr. Gell was fo obliging as to order should not be touched till I came to Hopton. In May last we proceeded to examine the urn, and after removing the stone, N° 2, which covered it, and clearing away the ground to the depth of five feet from the top, and about eighteen inches below the natural soil, I got a distinct view of the urn, which was four feet three inches in circumference, made of coarse baked earth, and full of burnt bones and ashes, in attempting to take it up, it fell to pieces. See the shape of the urn in drawing N° 3. The stone which covered this urn, fee N° 2, measures on the top two feet fix inches by one foot eight inches, and about nine inches thick, it appears to be a soft yellowish free stone, and much corroded; in rubbing off the dirt from the top, which had filled lip the interfaces of the letters, I discovered an inscription, a facsimile of which is on the stone N° 7. There evidently appears to have been more letters above, but they are now fo defaced by time, that nothing can be made out, though very possibly they might have been the letters of the praenomen; the inscription seems to be intended for Gellius Præfectus Cohortis Tertieæ Legionis Quintæ Britannicæ, but it does not appear, by any Roman author, that the fifth legion was ever in Britain, though Mr. Gordon mentions [a] a stone with the V. legion upon it, found in the fort at Grot hill in Scotland; he says, "I likewife found another very rare and curious stone with the following letters upon it, Leg. V. from the letters, two angular borderings appear on each side of the stone, so close and plain, that it leaves no room to doubt of its being read Legio Quinta; nor is there any space whatsoever for another letter to have been put in. I take this to be an invaluable rarity of its kind, being the only stone that ever I found in the island of Britain with the name of the fifth legion impressed upon it" LEGV.

Note a. Gordon* s Itinerarium Septentrionale, p. 56.

Diary of Caroline Girlie. After having spent our time most agreeably with our Derbyshire, as we had before done with our Yorkshire friends, our London party set out on our return to the Metropolis, but in our way back was to stay a few days at Matlock [Map] and see Chatsworth [Map]; the latter we did the morning we left Mr. Slater's, it being about ten miles distant. This celebrated seat in the Peak of Derbyshire of his Grace of Devonshire I must own does not quite answer what report had taught me to expect, tho' undoubtedly striking; but I was told it would appear less so to us than to strangers in general by the Slaters having a key to go through his Grace's grounds, a better and much shorter road than the public one, but that did not give one near so picturesque a view of Chatsworth's [Map] situation as if we had gone down to it all at once from the barren moors. The house is of stone, and the architecture thought very fine, twenty-two rooms on a floor; the windows of the principal storey, seventeen feet in height, are all looking-glass, of panes two feet wide, the frames double gilt; the door, and window-frames, and staircases of marble; ceilings and some apartments painted by Verrio and other celebrated artists; there is some fine tapestry, and in one chamber a most elegant bed, and furniture of fine old print set upon Nankeen, which has a very pretty effect, as the colour of the ground sets off the work. There are many fine pictures; one range of rooms they still style Mary, Queen of Scots, as she was some time here, as well as at his Grace's other seat of Hardwick; there is a very elegant chapel, the altar and font fine marble, seats and gallery cedar, the walls and ceiling painted. The front towards the garden is esteemed a most regular piece of architecture. The frieze under the cornice has the family motto upon it, in gilt letters so large as to take up the whole length, tho' only two words, "Cavendo Tutos," which are as applicable to the situation of the house as the name of the family. The waterworks, which are reckoned the finest in England, were all played off, may be said to be more grand than pleasing, as there is a formality in them, particularly the grand cascade, which takes off every idea of the rural scene they are supposed to afford one, and a kind of triflingness (if I may make a word), in the copper¹ willow-tree, and other contrivances beneath the dignity of the place. The gardens are fine. The very disadvantages of the situation contriving to their beauty. On the east side, not far distant, rises a prodigious mountain, so thick planted with beautiful trees that you only see a wood gradually ascending, as if the trees crowded one above the other to admire the stately pile before them. 'Tis said that Marshal Tallard when he returned to his own country, when he reckoned up the days of his captivity, said he should always leave out those he spent at Chatsworth; and I must own this magnificent (tho' at the same time gloomy), place may justly be stiled one of the wonders of the Peake.... In speaking of the waterworks, I forgot to mention the length of the great cascade, 220 yards long with twenty-three falls. In prosecuting our journey of about eleven miles, 'tis hardly possible to describe the variety of beauties; sometimes we were like Don Quixote, almost imagining ourselves enchanted, at another terrified by the huge rocks, which by their stupendous height seemed to threaten every minute to crush us by their fall. In the greatest of our terrors (when in a very narrow road, the above-mention'd rocks on one side, and an immense precipice down to the river on the other), we could not help laughing at the calm answer of one of the postillions, who by often going, I suppose, had not an idea of the danger we apprehended, for only calling out to beg he'd let us walk, and saying, "Where, friend, are you going?" "Only to Matlock Baths [Map], ladies." So indeed we knew, but at that moment doubted the wisdom of our driver, who, however conveyed us very safe to the destined spot. Ceremony seems banished from this agreeable place,. as on entering the long room strangers as well as acquaintances most politely made inquiries about the terrors of the way, &c, which themselves had before experienced. The very early hour of rising at Matlock [Map], gave us the next morning a still finer idea of the uncommon beauties of the place, as a most glorious day gave it additional lustre. The time of bathing is between six and seven, the water warm, and the pleasantest to drink that can be; at eight the company meet in the long room to breakfast in parties. This room and baths were built in 1734 by Stephen Egglinton. 'Tis a very good one, fifty feet long, windows all the way on each side, commanded the most romantic views, one way a fine terrace, beyond that a lawn extended to the river Derwent, which latter is a continual pleasing murmur by the current forcing itself over large pieces of rock; over this rises a most picturesque and natural shrubbery, to an immense and perpendicular height on the crag of rocks. On the left is seen Matlock High Torr [Map], a rocky mountain which, from the surface of the water 1757 to the top, is 445 feet. As there is always a cool spot among the woods, walking seems the particular amusement of the place. At two the bell rings for dinner, and, as before said, ease without unnecessary ceremony reigns here. Every one sits down without any form, those who come first by the rule taking the uppermost seats at the long table. There is a gallery for a band of music, who play the whole time of meals, The fatigue of dress, too, is at this public place quite avoided, as hats are general, as the company walk again till evening, when there is a ball in the long room till supper, and sometimes after. Every one retires very early, as few card-tables are seen, gaming not having yet reached this rural spot. The Boat-house, as 'tis call'd, we went one afternoon to drink tea at, where we bought curiosities of spars, &c, of the miners, men employed to the number of above ten thousand about Matlock [Map] only. We went, too, one morning to see them melt lead at a village near, call'd Cumford, but the heat was so intense we did not stay long among them; and the poor souls told us was often very prejudicial to them. That evening we went in a barge on the river, but it being not navigable, 'tis but in few places the stones and craginess of the rocks will allow of boats. Every evening almost we found new company on our return to supper. Tho' the numbers perhaps were lessn'd, as most likely as many were gone off the same morning, about a hundred generally assembled at dinner. I heard Miss Slater, who sometimes makes a stay there, say that two or three days has made a total change of inhabitants. We tried one evening to ascend the prodigious rock I before spoke of, call'd Matlock High Torr [Map]. Many do, it seems, perform it, but I own I was frighted before I had got a quarter of the way up, and each object below began to appear so diminutive that I, even with some others, consented to be ridiculed for my fears, and with vast joy got down again as soon as possible, and even thought I felt giddy for hours after, and thought myself most happy when I got into the grove, one of the sweetest walks in Matlock [Map].

Note 1. On pulling a string this sham tree deluges the stranger with a shower-bath.

Newhaven. On the 27th of April we opened a mutilated mound of earth in a field near Newhaven House, called the Low [Map], two-thirds of which had been removed, and the remainder more or less disturbed. So that nothing was found in its original state; which is much to be regretted, as the contents appear to be late in date, and different in character from anything we have before found in tumuli. The mound itself, being constructed of tempered earth, bore some analogy to the grave hill of the Saxon Thegn opened at Benty Grange [Map] about a year before; and like it was without human remains, if we except a few fragments of calcined bone, which are too minute to be certainly assigned either to a human or animal subject. The articles found comprise many small pieces of thin iron straps or bands, more or less overlaid with bronze, which are by no means unlike the framework of the helmet found at Benty Grange. There is also a boss of thin bronze, 3 inches diameter, pierced with three holes for attachment to the dress (?) and divided by raised concentric circles, between which the metal is ornamented with a dotted chevron pattern, in the angles of which are small roses punched by a die. Another object in bronze is a small round vessel or box of thick cast metal, surrounded by six vertical ribs, and having two perforated ears, serving probably better to secure the lid and suspend the box. Although it measures less than an inch in height, and less than 2 in diameter, it weighs full 3½ ounces. A similar box, with the lid, on which is a cross formed of annulets, found with Roman remains at Lincoln, is engraved at page 30 of the Lincoln Boot of the Archaeological Institute, where it is called a pyx. Two others, discovered at Lewes, are engraved in the Archaeologia, Vol. XXXI., page 437, one of which has the lid bearing a cross precisely similar to the Lincoln example, whence it is certain that they must be assigned to a Christian period, probably not long previous to the extinction of the Saxon monarchy. The last object there is occasion to describe is an iron ferrule or hoop, 1½ inch diameter, one edge of which is turned inwards so as to prevent its slipping up the shaft on which it has been fixed. We also found some shapeless pieces of melted glass, which from their variegated appearance might be the product of fused beads; and observed many pieces of charred wood throughout the mound, which may possibly not have been of a sepulchral character.

A laughable circumstance occurred in connection with one article found here, which is really too good to be lost, t sent a sketch of the bronze box to a metropolitan archaeologist in order to ascertain its use. It was submitted to a well known collector, since deceased, who sent word that it was a Chinese weight I which he had recently seen knocked down at Stevens' saleroom!

Youlgrave. On the 3rd of May, we made a second investigation of the tumulus at Bee Low [Map], near Youlgrave, which was first imperfectly opened by us in 1843, the excavation being then confined to the centre; but the mound being a bowl-shaped one, upwards of twenty yards diameter, it was thought worth while to make a further trial in it, which was begun by digging from the old cutting in the middle to the south side. The first discovery made when we had proceeded about three yards, was a skeleton lying on its left side with the knees drawn up, and the head to the east, so that the face was turned to the outside of the barrow. It was about eighteen inches below the surface of the mound, and did not seem to have been placed in a cist, although two or three courses of flat stones were carefully laid over it: near the head were three small instruments of bronze, two of them awls, and a few bits of the same metal that had been melted, and which had originally been small instruments of similar character. This skeleton having been taken up, we perceived the ground on the right or western side of the trench to decline; following this indication, we came to an irregular grave cut in the rock, the bottom about 4 feet 6 inches from the surface of the barrow: it was surrounded by a lining of small flat stones placed on edge, and within this lining was a regular pitching, like a street pavement, of clear chert stones very closely packed, extending over the whole grave; above them earth and stones had been thrown in without' order, but underneath them was the skeleton of a young person resting in the usual contracted position, with the head to the south-west, the elbows almost in contact with the thigh bones, and the hands in front of the face. At the angle formed by the bending of the knees, was a beautiful drinking-cup, only 6½ inches high, ornamented by two variations of the lozengy pattern; it still retained its upright position, and close to it was a very fine instrument of white flint, upwards of four inches long, which may have been used either as a knife or saw. While tracing out the western extremity of this grave, our attention was drawn to a very large stone, set up in a direction from S.E. to N.W., on a little higher level than the bottom of the grave, which was at length found to be one end of a rectangular cist, the other sides and cover of which were formed of similar slabs. Its internal dimensions were 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet deep; and it was filled with stiff earth and small gravelly stone, amongst which, near the top, were fragments of calcined bone, and a small bronze awl or pin; removing the earth down to the floor (which was rock), we there found the bones composing the skeleton of an aged man, with a short round cranium, carefully placed in a heap in the middle, the long bones laid parallel with each other, and the skull put at the top of the heap, with the base upward. The bones being perfect, it is evident that this arrangement had been made whilst they were fresh and strong; and it is not a little singular that a similar mode of interment exists among the Patagonians, who make skeletons of their dead previous to burial. After removing these bones we found two small flints, and a piece of stag's horn at the bottom. Great quantities of rats' bones were found through the whole of the excavation, but they were observed to be most abundant and best preserved around the second interment, with which, it may be proper to mention, there was a single piece of an infant's skull, no other of its bones being found by a most careful examination. The accompanying plan represents the position of the various interments in the barrow; the flat stone shewn with burnt bones in the centre, being found in 1843.

Thomas Bateman 1845. A discovery, made in the month of June, 1845, of a large urn inverted over a deposit of calcined human bones, at the outer edge of a small barrow [Map] upon Harthill Moor, which was undergoing a process of demolition, in order that the land might he brought into cultivation, coupled with a knowledge of the very productive character of that neighbourhood in matters of antiquity led to a successful search for the whole contents of the barrow on the 12th of June. The elevation of the tumulus above the surrounding land was so slight as to be scarcely perceptible; and had it not been for the accidental discovery of the large urn, the other interesting remains would have probably remained in obscurity. But to return to facts: the remains of the large urn and its contents being carefully collected, it was found to be of very coarse material, and singular workmanship, presenting a strong contrast to the remains of two elaborately-ornamented and really elegant urns, which were found on cutting a short distance into the mound, lying amongst a confused stratum of calcined bones. On arriving at the centre of the tumulus, a very large sandstone was perceived, on the south side of the excavation, which was at first supposed to be a rock. Close to the edge of this stone was found an interment of calcined bones, accompanied by two broken incense cups, of novel form and very superior workmanship, and on examining the bones two rude instruments of flint were discovered amongst them. On clearing away the earth from the side of the large stone, the upper edge of one of smaller dimensions was perceived, which proved to be one side of a very perfect cist, measuring from the floor to the under side of the cover three feet from end to end four feet six inches and about three feet in width; the immense stone which formed the cover was about two feet in thickness and about seven feet square on an average. This cist, divested of the surrounding earth, would present to view the erection usually denominated a cromlech. It was found to be almost entirely full of fine and beautifully clear sand, amongst which were large quantities of calcined human bones, some small pieces of an urn, and upon its floor were very evident remains of heath. (A correct view of this cist, as it appeared when opened, forms the vignette in the title-page of "Barrow-digging by a Barrow-knight," 1845.)

On the 14th of June, 1845, at a very short distance from the preceding barrow, another small cist was discovered, at a short distance beneath the surface, measuring two feet in length, about one foot in width, thus forming a perfect parallelogram. It was found to contain a large quantity of human bones, which had undergone cremation, and a few pieces of pottery, one of which formed part of the edge of the large urn which is mentioned in the preceding account as having led to the discovery of the others. No other antiquities were found, although the excavation was continued for a considerable extent in the immediate neighbourhood.