Ten Years' Digging 1853. On the 10th of April, we examined a mound [Bank Top Barrow [Map]] situated in a small waterless valley near the farm-house at Bank Top, near Hartington, but found that although it had evidently been cast up as a barrow, its contents had been removed at a former period, as we discovered traces of recent excavation in the presence of pieces of earthenware, such as was used in the last century, dispersed throughout the centre. The tumulus was composed of earth and stones, heaped up on the surface of the land to the height of three feet at least. We observed numerous pieces of animal bone, part of a stag's horn, and a few pieces of Romano-British pottery about the natural surface; one of the latter is the circular bottom of a vessel about three inches diameter, which appears to have had the broken edge rubbed down previous to its being buried.

Hill Head. On the 10th of June, we examined the remnant of a barrow [Cotes Field Barrow [Map]] at Cotes Field, near Hartington, but were disappointed by finding the interior occupied by the ruins of a limekiln; a few fragments of human bone, and bones of rats, alone testifying to the sepulchral origin of the mound.

Stephen Glover 1831. About the distance of half a mile from Arbor low to the west is another large barrow called End low [Map] in which ashes and burnt bones have been found. From this numerous barrows may be seen on the distant eminences and in some of them urns human bones ashes and other memorials of the customs of remote ages have been discovered. The names of several places in this neighbourhood are also indicative of antiquity though the places themselves are now of little account as Aldwark five miles south of Arbor low on the Roman road from Buxton to Little Chester; Aldport on another ancient way leading from Aldwark towards Bakewell and some others.

Section I Tumuli 1843. On the 2d of August 1843 a fresh excavation was made into the large tumulus on End Lowe [Map] in a contrary direction to the one made on the former attempt and unfortunately with no better success. The surface not being reached only a few human bones and teeth were seen distributed through the barrow. The discovery of the primary interment in this immense accumulation of stone therefore still remains a desideratum to the Derbyshire archaeologist.

Section I Tumuli 1843. June 21, 1848. A large barrow about eight feet in height, denominated End Lowe [Map], which forms a conspicuous object, being placed on an elevated ridge of land near Heathcote, was subjected to an examination, which proved anything but satisfactory; from the south side, where the turf was first removed, to the centre of the barrow, nothing but large stones presented themselves, which when unmixed with soil, as in this case, are the material worst calculated to afford success to the labours of the antiquarian excavator: however, at the very commencement large quantities of rats' bones, and pieces of the antlers of deer were abundantly scattered about through the more open parts of the mound. About six feet from the southern verge of the circle, was found a human skeleton, apparently of a very young individual, not more than twelve years of age, near which lay a deposit of calcined human bones, without urn or other means of protection from the weight of the overriding mass of stones, by which the skeleton had been much injured. Near the centre of the tumulus a very few human bones of adult size were observed, all of which had the appearance of being gnawed by rats. The natural surface of the ground immediately beneath the middle of the mound was formed to sink to a considerable depth lower than the surrounding levels and it is much to be regretted that owing to the loose nature of the barrow before alluded to it was formed impossible to penetrate to the undisturbed ground upon which in all probability the earliest interment would be formed to lie.

End Low. On the 13th of July we re-opened the large barrow at End Low [Map], which was first attempted in 1843, without our finding the primary interment. Our researches this time resulted in the discovery of the remains of the original occupant, which were, after the expenditure of much labour, found in a cist cut down in the rock to the depth of six feet beneath the natural surface, and upwards of ten feet from the top of the barrow. The skeleton was that of a finely proportioned man, rather above the middle size, and was in good preservation, with the exception of the head, which was decayed at the left side, from contact with the floor of the grave. The bones lay apparently without much regularity, which was attribute able to the settling down of the stones upon the body during the process of decay. At a small distance from them was a bronze dagger and spear head of flint, of a grey colour. The grave was bounded on three sides by rock, and the remaining one was walled up to a level with them with loose limestones. The skull is engraved in the Crania Britannica, and is described by the learned writer as "a well-formed head, presenting very clearly the conformation of the true ancient British cranium, of which it may be regarded as belonging to the typical scries." The femur measures 18.8 inches.

Section I Tumuli 1843. 12th of August 1843, was opened a large barrow, called Hawk's Lowe [Map] about two miles north-west of the village of Parwich [Map]. It is about thirty yards in diameter and five feet in height, and has been dug into several times by various persons. At the depth of a foot or eighteen inches from the surface of the mound, on the occasion in question, were found human bones, pieces of flint and urns, horses' teeth, and rats' bones, but no appearance of an undisturbed interment was to be seen. Lower down, in the interior of the barrow, every sign of its former contents disappeared, nor was anything farther discovered.

Stakor Hill. On the 4th of September, we opened a barrow [Hollins Hill Barrow [Map]] on the summit of a very steep hill, called Hollings, overlooking the almost unapproachable village of Rollings Clough. The barrow, which appeared to have been previously excavated, as about twelve yards diameter and four feet high, with a concave centre like a basin. By cutting out a large hole, we found that it covered a grave cut in loose sandstone rock to the depth of two feet, in addition to the height of the mound; the grave measured about eight feet long by seven wide, and contained numerous pieces of calcined human bone, which had apparently been burnt at the south-east corner, where the sides were quite red from the effect of the fire. A piece of slate pencil, and an old-fashioned button, were fotmd near the surface, which proved that the mound had been so far disturbed, and the scattered way in which the burnt bones were disposed amongst the stones filling the grave, led us to think that the whole had been plundered.

Section I Tumuli 1843. June 17, 1843, was opened a barrow, called Lean Lowe [Map], situated on the summit of a hill near Hartington [Map]. The south side being most perfect it was deemed most prudent to commence the cutting on that side. Having penetrated to within about two feet from the middle of the mound, an interment was met with, which was probably not so early as the date of the original construction of the tumulus, as, instead of being placed upon the floor of the pile, as usual, it had been buried without care upon a higher level. The head lay between two large stones on the south-west side of the circle, and appeared to have been slightly protected by another stone lying across them. The legs lay in the direction of the interior of the barrow. This interment was devoid of any interest arising from the deposit of weapons or other articles, as nothing of the kind was discovered, more than two horse's teeth, and rats' bones in quantities. Owing to an erection of turf and stones, pertaining to the Ordnance Survey, which surmounted the top of the mound, it was found impracticable to explore the middle of it, which would probably have afforded far more interesting results. (See forward for further discoveries in this tumulus.)

Thomas Bateman 1846. The barrow at Lean Lowe [Map], opened on the 17th of June,, 1843, without any decisive results, was again excavated on the 23d of February 1847; when the operations were confined to the north side of the tumulus, a part previously unexplored. About eighteen inches beneath the surface was found a small urn of very coarse clay, neatly ornamented, deposited in a rude cist formed of four large stones; around the urn were many pieces of calcined bone, which did not appear ever to have been placed within it; on the contrary, it contained some splinters of animal bones, which were free from the action of fire, and a small knife of black flint. Laid upon the rock, about a foot deeper than the vase, was a human skeleton, in a contracted position and imbedded in rats' bones, but unaccompanied by any kind of relic. These bones were the remains of a young person, whose age probably did not exceed sixteen years, and whose teeth are beautifully regular.

Parwich. Next day we were engaged in opening barrows [Low Moor Barrow 1 [Map] and Low Moor Barrow 2 [Map]] upon Low Moor near Parwich. The first was, to all appearance, a large and perfect tumulus, but we were disappointed by finding the remains of a lime-kiln in the middle, which had been constructed above a large grave in the rock, the covering slabs of which had been converted into the roof of the draught hole of the kiln. After this discovery we abandoned the search, having found no human remains. The other barrow was much smaller, the central elevation being only a foot, it was, nevertheless, found to cover a grave sunk through the natural soil into the rock, to the further depth of six feet. About two feet from the surface we met with fragments of pottery, pieces of human bone, burnt and unburnt, and traces of decomposed wood which lay in a regular stratum amongst the stones by which the grave was filled. After much labour we succeeded in emptying the grave, which did not exhibit any marks of former opening, until about the end of our operations, when such became too evident on the discovery of the skeleton of an infant and some pieces of a roughly ornamented vase, carelessly thrown together in a corner; while, to make assurance doubly sure, at the other end of the grave was a piece of rusty iron, bearing a suspicious resemblance to the end of a pick, by no means primitive in form. The former opening must have taken place at an ancient, perhaps medieval, period, as the stones filling the grave were all of one colour from having lain in the damp so long, and were quite free from earth which might have fallen from the surface, so that we had no idea of its having been disturbed till we reached the bottom.

Parwich. Next day we were engaged in opening barrows [Low Moor Barrow 1 [Map] and Low Moor Barrow 2 [Map]] upon Low Moor near Parwich. The first was, to all appearance, a large and perfect tumulus, but we were disappointed by finding the remains of a lime-kiln in the middle, which had been constructed above a large grave in the rock, the covering slabs of which had been converted into the roof of the draught hole of the kiln. After this discovery we abandoned the search, having found no human remains. The other barrow was much smaller, the central elevation being only a foot, it was, nevertheless, found to cover a grave sunk through the natural soil into the rock, to the further depth of six feet. About two feet from the surface we met with fragments of pottery, pieces of human bone, burnt and unburnt, and traces of decomposed wood which lay in a regular stratum amongst the stones by which the grave was filled. After much labour we succeeded in emptying the grave, which did not exhibit any marks of former opening, until about the end of our operations, when such became too evident on the discovery of the skeleton of an infant and some pieces of a roughly ornamented vase, carelessly thrown together in a corner; while, to make assurance doubly sure, at the other end of the grave was a piece of rusty iron, bearing a suspicious resemblance to the end of a pick, by no means primitive in form. The former opening must have taken place at an ancient, perhaps medieval, period, as the stones filling the grave were all of one colour from having lain in the damp so long, and were quite free from earth which might have fallen from the surface, so that we had no idea of its having been disturbed till we reached the bottom.

Moneystones. There are two barrows in the valley adjoining a hill near Hartington called Casking Low, which are commonly called Moneystones. The largest [Map] [Moneystones Barrow 1 [Map]] has been nearly removed, for the sake of the limestone it contained, and has been further rifled by treasure-seekers allured by the attractive name. On this account our researches on the 15th of July proved unavailing, as we found nothing but fragments of human skeletons and bits of flint. The smaller barrow [Map] [Moneystones Barrow 2 [Map]] is in the same field, about one hundred yards from the other, measures about six yards across, and is surrounded by a circle of large limestones, whose grey and lichen-covered surfaces, rising above the turf, present a venerable and old-world appearance. Near the surface, about the centre, we found a skeleton having no implements. Somewhat lower down the earth at first sight appeared to be quite undisturbed; but on closer examination we detected particles of charcoal, and consequently proceeded till, at the depth of about a yard, we discovered two more skeletons, lying in the usual contracted posture upon the top of the natural rock. They were both much decayed, and had each but one spear head of flint, though they were surrounded by a slight sprinkling of chippings of the same material.

Moneystones. There are two barrows in the valley adjoining a hill near Hartington called Casking Low, which are commonly called Moneystones. The largest [Map] [Moneystones Barrow 1 [Map]] has been nearly removed, for the sake of the limestone it contained, and has been further rifled by treasure-seekers allured by the attractive name. On this account our researches on the 15th of July proved unavailing, as we found nothing but fragments of human skeletons and bits of flint. The smaller barrow [Map] [Moneystones Barrow 2 [Map]] is in the same field, about one hundred yards from the other, measures about six yards across, and is surrounded by a circle of large limestones, whose grey and lichen-covered surfaces, rising above the turf, present a venerable and old-world appearance. Near the surface, about the centre, we found a skeleton having no implements. Somewhat lower down the earth at first sight appeared to be quite undisturbed; but on closer examination we detected particles of charcoal, and consequently proceeded till, at the depth of about a yard, we discovered two more skeletons, lying in the usual contracted posture upon the top of the natural rock. They were both much decayed, and had each but one spear head of flint, though they were surrounded by a slight sprinkling of chippings of the same material.

Minninglow. On the 13th of August we opened a barrow [Map] [Roystone Grange Barrow [Map]] at Ryestone Grange, close to Minninglow farm, which is a tolerably perfect mound, 11 yards across and near four feet high, but crossed by a thick stone wall which greatly impeded our operations, and which there is reason to believe prevented the discovery of the primary interment. At one side of the wall we found many bones, both human and animal; the only undisturbed skeleton being that of a ohild, buried about a foot from the surface and unaccompanied by anything of interest; among the animal bones were some teeth of dogs. On the other side of the wall we found an iron knife, of the usual Saxon shape, about a foot beneath the turf; and on the natural surface below, a deposit of calcined bones containing a bone pin. By undercutting the wall as far as practicable, we ascertained that the centre of the barrow was principally of earth surrounded by large stones inclining inwards, and from this locality we drew out a piece of curiously ornamented pottery of primitive manufacture.

Parwich. On the 9th of August we made an examination of the remains of a tumulus [Map] [Saint's Hill Barrow [Map]] in a plantation on the summit of Saint's Hill, near Parwich, which had been destroyed by getting stone for the walls enclosing the plantation, when about 80 small brass coins of the later Roman Emperors were found scattered about the barrow.

Owing to the double destruction caused by stone getters, and persons tempted to search by the discovery of the coins, we were unable to find a single inch of undisturbed ground, and the sole evidence of former interments was afforded by two human teeth and some rats' bones.

Parwich. On the 6th of August we made a section into the smallest of two mounds, near Parwich, situated in a field, called, I believe, from the owner or occupier, Saint's Low [Map], in a low situation near a small watercourse. The composition of the mound, notwithstanding its affix of "Low," indicating no artificial origin, the investigation was relinquished without our interfering with the larger mound close by.