Details of site on Pastscape
A Bronze Age bowl barrow situated in the corner of Ogbourne St Andrew Churchyard. Excavations in 1885 by Henry Cunnington located primary Bronze Age cremation, an Anglo-Saxon inhumation and about twenty intrusive inhumations thought to be part of the medieval churchyard. In 1974 the barrow was visible as an earthwork 23 metres in diameter, 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top.
(SU 1888 7234) Tumulus (NR). (1)
A round barrow in Ogbourne St Andrew churchyard, excavated by Henry Cunnington in 1885. He found about 20 skeletons in the top 2 or 3 feet; a skeleton in a fir-wood coffin with iron clamps, near the centre and 5 ft down; a cremation wrapped in a cloth and associated with a flint knife and a small 'food vessel' at 7 ft; and, at the old ground level, abundant traces of wood ash and cremations, irregularly scattered, and 'what appeared to be the side of a trench' some 6 or 7 ft in length and lined with wood. Other items found in the excavation were a fine leaf-shaped arrowhead just below the surface at the top of the barrow, and several 'interesting flint implements and rubbers of sarsen stone, turned up in the course of excavation'. Cunnington interpreted the 20 skeletons as medieval burials (probably of poor people as there were no traces of coffins); the skeleton in the coffin as probably Saxon; and the lower level remains as (inferentially) Bronze Age, with the trench feature possibly the remains of a (primary) burial pit. (2).
Other authorities (3, 4, 5, 6) give summaries of the excavation without dissenting from Cunnington's conclusions. The cremation cloth is separately discussed (7). The skeleton and coffin are generally accepted as probably Saxon, and are illustrated by Baldwin Brown; they went to Devizes Museum (4). The dimensions of the barrow are given by Cunnington as Diam c 85ft, height at least 11ft; and Grinsell gives practically the same. (2-8)
SU 18877233. A bowl barrow 23.0 metres in diameter and 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top. Tree covered. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (9)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Chambered round barrow listed by Grinsell as Ogbourne St Andrew 19, possibly Neolithic, excavated by Lukis in 1861. The mound had already suffered considerable damage by then. The excavations located an inhumation and a cremation. The cremation was accompanied by a potsherds and a bone chisel, the inhumation by a stone muller or rubber. In 1863 the mound was described as being 47 feet in diameter and formed largely of sarsens laid flat over a low mound, whereas Lukis had referred to a mutilated tumulus with a circle of upright stones near the base. No surface trace remains of the monument. The monument was not seen on available air photographs.
(SU 14867251) Long Barrow (NR) (site of). (1)
"...the mutilated remains of a stone barrow having a kistvaen at the east end" comparable with that at Clatford Bottom (SU 16 NE 36 Long Barrow). (2) Lukis, who excavated here in 1861, describes it only as a very mutilated tumulus of earth and stones near the base of which was a circle of upright stones some of which remained. No trace of a covered passage could be found and only two uprights of a chamber remained, with a third stone to the east. Between the uprights he found an inhumation burial with its head to the south. Beside it was a stone muller or rubber. Outside the E upright a cremation burial was found, with fragments of pottery, and a bone chisel was found tucked in at the base of the stone. This chisel and two stone mullers are in Devizes Museum. (3-4)
A tumulus about 47 ft in diameter and nearly entirely formed of large sarsen stones laid flat over a low mound of earth. A little from the centre of the SW side two large flat stones rise above the rest to a height of 6 ft above the mound and a former cap-stone has fallen to the north. No sign could be seen of the former presence of stones at either end of the erect stones nor was there any trace of the earth and stones that had formed the mound over the chamber. (Lukis (above) makes it plain that Harrod is describing the mound excavated by him two years before). (5) There is no direct evidence to justify describing this as a long barrow. No trace remains of the mound. (6) There are no surface remains. (7) No trace of this feature was seen when the area was mapped at 1:10,000 from air photographs. (8)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A circle of sarsens, no longer extant, suggested by Grinsell to be a possible bowl barrow (Preshute 10a) with peristalith. Excavation in 1849 by Merewether recovered quantities of pottery, animal bones and worked flints, plus a single sherd of samian ware.
SU 130725. The approximate site of a possible bowl barrow, Merewether's No 29, which is described as - A 16' diam circle of sarsens of which only 7 remained. In the centre were 5 of similar size surrounding one lying flat between them. The central stone was raised revealing an intrusive sherd of samian. Many pieces of rude, thick pottery, deer and ox bones, charcoal and an ochre-like substance were found. Near the natural chalk there were a large number of pieces of worked flint. (1-2) Field under crop. No trace of a barrow. (3)
No barrow was recorded when the area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The grid reference cited above lies very close to a bank which is part of a field system, now eroded by ploughing. (4)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A double row of sarsens possibly representing a stone alignment. The presence of sarsens could not be confirmed from an air photographic survey in 1995.
(Centred SU 13687297) Double row of sarsen holes, eight on the SW and 12 on the NE. (1)
This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The presence of sarsen holes could not be confirmed by the AP survey. (2)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising bowl barrows Preshute 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 9b. At least four still survive as mounds. Barrow 9 may possibly have been a pond barrow.
(Centred SU 13657295) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Rough Hill Group of bowl barrows, all listed by Grinsell. [Concordance between Ordnance Survey and Grinsell:
'A' = Preshute 4, 'B' = Preshute 5, 'C' = Preshute 6, 'D' = Preshute 7, 'E' = Preshute 8, 'F' = Preshute 9, 'G' = Preshute 9b]
'A' SU 13607295. Very ill defined, diam 16 paces; height 1'.
'B' SU 13657294. Slight ditch, diam 7 paces; height 1'.
'C' SU 13677294. Slight ditch, diam 12 paces; height 3'.
'D' SU 13687293. Diam 13 paces; height 3'.
Cairn mainly of sarsens.
'E' SU 13507297. Diam 14 paces; height 3'.
'F' SU 13777296. Diam 17 paces; height nil.
Large circular hollow with sarsens at bottom, surrounded by a rim of earth; like a pond barrow lined with sarsens, but probably not.
'G' SU 13707294. Possible barrow found by Grinsell in 1938, re-visited 1950. Diam 7 paces; height 1/2'. (2)
"A" A bowl barrow up to 18.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high. In a very poor condition.
"B" A bowl barrow up to 8.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
"C" A bowl barrow 13.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
"D" A bowl barrow 12.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with a large stone content.
"E" A badly mutilated bowl barrow approximately 24.0 metres in diameter and up to 0.7 metres high. In a poor condition.
"F" There is no trace of this feature on the ground; ? ploughed out.
"G" A possible bowl barrow 6.5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high.
Published 25" survey revised. (3)
This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. Mounds were recorded at SU 13607295, SU 13657294, SU 13677294 and SU 13507297 ('A', 'B', 'C' and 'E' above). The mounds described as 'D', 'F' and 'G' above were not confirmed by the AP survey. (4-5)
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Details of stones on Pastscape
Two round barrows situated to the west of Barton Copse. They are visible on air photographs as broad, light coloured, circular bands about 30 metres in diameter.
(A) SU 16926964 (B) SU 16956962. Round barrows west of Barton Copse. (1)
These sites could not be traced on the ground. The area lies on the crest of a S facing chalk spur under plough. Both sites appear on the AP (a) as broad light coloured circular bands about 30.0m in diameter. The field seems to have been under stubble at the time and other elliptical bands near the boundary hedge suggest that all the marks are the result of agricultural activity. (2)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Sites of eleven Bronze Age round barrows seen as cropmarks and mapped from aerial photographs.
(SU 15416901) Tumulus (NR) (1) Preshute 3: SU 15416901. A bowl barrow 35 paces by 5ft high, on arable land and spread. (2) In 1955 two barrow circles were seen as crop marks of similar size. One (A: SU 15256901) within the west border of the field had two concentric ditches several feet apart. The other (B: SU 15296901) first appeared as a single ditch but in 1962 showed up as two concentric ditches. In addition to these marks Dr I Smith and W E V Young in 1962 saw another smaller ring about 50 yds south east of Preshute 3 (D: SU 15446893). Dr Smith reported marks of a further barrow
which later showed as a very small circle (C: SU 15246903) on the extreme edge of the field. (3-5)
The published barrow, Preshute 3, has now been destroyed but shows on the Wilts CC air photo as a light circular band, 30.0 m overall, indicating the ditch and enclosing a darker area. None of the other reported cropmarks can be identified on the ground but the ring ditch at approximately SU 15446893 visible on the St Joseph air photo is probably 'D'. No site can be seen on OS AP's.
OS 1:2500 published survey revised. (6)
These barrows were mapped at 1:10,000 from APs as part of the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. Their positions were fixed more accurately and a further six barrows were recorded. It is clear from AP evidence that five of the barrows comprise double ring ditches, and that within four of these, the inner ring ditch is off centre.
SU 15416900 (Preshute 3 above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 45m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15276900 ('A' above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 40m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15326900 ('B' above): two concentric ring ditches with an overall diameter of 35m.
SU 15226901 ('C' above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 30m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15476893 ('D' above): a single ring ditch 35m in diameter.
SU 15486898: a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 28m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15266908: a single ring ditch 20m in diameter.
SU 15306910: a single ring ditch 18m in diameter.
SU 15596892: a single ring ditch 18m in diameter.
SU 15586882: a single ring ditch 15m in diameter.
SU 15546891: a partial single ring ditch 18m in diameter. (7)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Possible cup markings identified on a sarsen in Delling Penning. The stone "is situated within an old field and a few feet from the edge of a baulk running downhill from north west to south east, between the south western corner of Totterdown Wood and Delling Cottage".
SU 135715: Twenty well-preserved cup-markings on the south east slope of a recumbent sarsen stone in Delling Penning. The stone is situated within an old field and a few feet from the edge of a baulk running downhill from north west to south east, between the south western corner of Totterdown Wood and Delling Cottage. (1) The sarsen is at SU 13437152 and is as described by Lacaille. The markings are not easily distinguished, and are of uncertain origin, though they cannot easily be dismissed as natural. Photograph not practicable. (2) Scheduled, National Number 33951. (3)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A mound on Granham Hill has been suggested to be a possible long barrow. It is 76 metres long, 13 metres wide, and up to 2.3 metres high at the eastern end and 3.1 metres high at the western end. It has suffered damage from the presence of a parish boundary ditch, a hollow way, and ploughing. No side ditches can be observed on the ground. Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1974 suggests that while its orientation, general appearance and proportion mark it out as a likely long barrow, the fact that the western end is taller casts doubt on this classification. However, a westerly-orientated long barrow would hardly be unheard of.
(SU 17976797) A possible long barrow marked by O Meyrick on Granham Hill. (1)
A mound 76.0m long, 13.0m wide rising from a height of 2.3m at the E to 3.1m at the W; it is composed of earth and flints, covered by very old trees, and is situated just below the crest of a N
facing slope. The feature is cut along the spine by an old parish boundary ditch, to the S of which all trace of the mound appears to be completely ploughed out. At its W end there is a 0.6m deep scarp extending N which suggests that this side of the mound has been constructed by scarping; a side ditch is not evident. Material has been removed from the E end of the mound, possibly for repair to the hollow-way which skirts its eastern extremity. In spite of its orientation, general appearance and proportion, the fact that the west end is higher than the east does cast some doubt on its classification as a long barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)
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Details of Flag Barrow on Pastscape
Bowl barrow surviving as a mutilated earthwork. The mound has been `squared up' to form a platform for a flagstaff which is set in the top.
SU 18067026 Tumulus (NR). (1) Bowl barrow, diam 25 paces; height 5 1/2'. (2) A mutilated bowl barrow 20.0 metres in diameter and 1.2 metres high. The mound has been "squared-up" to form a rough platform for a flagstaff set in the top. Published 25" survey revised. (3)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Barrow group comprising two bowl barrows and a possible bell or bowl barrow with a possible tree ring. Two of the barrows have been incorporated into golf tees. All survive as earthworks but were noted to be in poor condition in 1975.
(Centred SU 18047019) Tumuli (NR). (1)
(SU 18107020.) Possible bell-barrow, query whether surrounding ditch is original or a recent tree-ring. Mound diam. 100'; height 4'; berm width 30'?; (no dimensions for ditch).
(SU 18067019) scheduled bowl barrow. Turned into a golf tee and cannot be measured.
(SU 17977017). Mutilated bowl barrow, diam 14 paces; height 3'. (2)
SU 18107020. The barrow is very badly mutilated and can no longer be positively classified either as a bell or bowl. The mound which is approximately 38.0 metres by 34.0 metres and about 1.5 metres high has been 'adapted' to accommodate two golf-tees. Its ditch is no longer evident.
SU 18067019. As described.
SU 17957015. The mutilated barrow is up to 13.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high.
In a poor condition. Published 25" survey 1:2500 revised. (3)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A probably Late Prehistoric or Roman trackway defined by a hollow way and external banks for much of its length seen as earthworks in a 2006 lidar survey. (1) (SU 1118 6896). Parts of the trackway are also visible in two aerial photograph (2) (3)
This route deviates away from West Kennet and the Roman road to the north bypassing the Avebury Henge after which it appears to link to another trackway that runs into the field system on Monkton Down (NMR 221722). It is likely that this track represents an important access route from the Kennet valley up into the field systems on the downs.
Geographically the track runs up a dry coombe to the north of West Kennet it then follows a flat terrace that skirts the bottom of Avebury Down. The track seems to incorporate the barrow Avebury 21 into its bank (NMR 220877) and would have passed close to Faulkner's circle (NMR 220780).
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Details of site on Pastscape
SU 10766783 (GCE)
An RCHME 1:2500 scale, level 3 air photographic interpretation survey (Event UID 936869) was carried out on this monument group in January 1992. A line of five round barrows were noted on the slope running north down to the Kennet, approximately 250m ENE of West Kennett Long Barrow. It is possible that these may be the mis-sited source for record SU 16 NW 46.
'A' SU 10706782 Seen as a ring ditch, approximately 18m across, with a slight residual mound visible as a chalk spread.
'B' SU 10726783 Seen as a ring ditch, approximately 25m across, with a slight residual mound visible as a chalk spread.
'C' SU 10766783 Seen as a ring ditch, approximately 30m across, with a slight residual mound visible as a chalk spread.
'D' SU 10796783 Seen as a ring ditch, approximately 30m across, with a slight residual mound visible as a chalk spread.
'E' SU 10826782 Seen as a ring ditch, approximately 20m across, with a slight residual mound visible as a chalk spread.
The archive created by this project (Collection UID 936807) is held by RCHME. (1)
Cropmark remains of five probable Bronze Age round barrows in an east-west linear alignment. All are defined by a single ditch and are recorded as follows: SU 1069 6782- diameter of 15m, SU 1072 6783- diameter of 20m, SU 1075 6783- diameter of 30m, SU 1075 6783- diameter of 30m and SU 1082 6782 - diameter of 19m. (2)
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Details of site on Pastscape
South-west of West Kennett Long barrow, Avebury 54; the site of two barrows (approx SU 102677) shown on the old 2" Drawing and Colt Hoare's Map of the Marlborough Station. (1-2) Grinsell, who sites them to approx SU 103676, lists them as no longer visible. (3) No trace of either barrow can be located on the ground or on OS APs. (4) An RCHME 1:2500 scale, level 3 air photographic interpretation project (Event UID 936869) was carried out on this monument in January 1992. No trace of either barrow was found on any available photography. The archive created by this project (Collection UID 936807) is held by RCHME. (5) The cropmark remains of two possible Bronze Age round barrows centred at SU 1024 6769 and SU 1029 6772 were mapped from aerial photographs. The south-western barrow is circular, defined by a single ditch with a diameter of 15m. The north-eastern was more fragmented, with a single ditch and a diameter of 38m. These barrows may possibly be those described by Colt Hoare at this approximate grid reference - authorities (1-2). (6)
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Details of site on Pastscape
(SU 15206965) Devil's Den (NAT) Burial Chamber (NR) (1)
Preshute 3a; Long barrow, destroyed except for ruined remains of chamber, re-set 1921. Orientated SE-NW, with larger end to SE. Assessed by Passmore to have been 230ft x 130ft; there may have been a forecourt originally. (2) In 1921 the remains of the barrow were much spread and lowered by ploughing but still visible. The chamber was about 70ft inwards from the larger end. (3)
'Devil's Den' (name confirmed and in local usage) is situated at 450ft OD, in arable, at the bottom of a broad shallow coombe. The NE upright stone, supported at its outerbase by concrete, is 3.0m long, that on the SW is 2.6m long and leaning; both enclose an overall ground width of 3.6m. Height to top of capstone approx 2.5m. Two large fallen sarsens within the chamber possibly represent end stones, and a further 16 (? field clearance) sarsen fragments lie within the interior. The chamber, which remains in good condition rests upon a grass covered mound, diameter 7.6m, height 0.8m. All other ground spread of the barrow is now ploughed out. Divorced survey at 1:2500. (4) The mound was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Mapping Project. No further information was recorded. (5)
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Details of site on Pastscape
SU 14397128 "Long Tom". A finely-dressed sarsen monolith, 8 ft 3 in high with squared sides about one foot across, on the parish boundary. (1)
SU 14407127. The stone, in common with other boundary and standing stones in the neighbourhood, bears the marks of the steel wedges used to split it from a larger block, suggesting that it is of
recent date. (2) Scheduled, National Number 33951. (3)
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Details of site on Pastscape
(SU 1515 7140) Burial Chamber (NR) SU 1513 7140 Manton Down Long Barrow. Length 65'; width 35'; height 3 1/2'. No 11 on Wessex map. (2) The remains of the burial chamber were at the E end and could not have been more than 6' square internally (3) (4). Traces of an orthostatic revetment are still visible (4) and one outlying stone at SE corner of the could be remains of the peristalith. (3). Hoare (5) refers to the mound being "set round with stone" and Mrs Cunnington (6) noted three or four stones being partly buried c 1913. Has been levelled by a bulldozer. A rescue excavation was carried out by R J C Atkinson in 1955. Publication forthcoming.
There are no surface indications of this long barrow in the arable field. 5 large sarsen slabs and numerous smaller sarsens lie in a patch of scrub centred SU 1513 7141 immediately adjacent to the
barrow site; it is probable that some formed the burial chamber (see illustration card) Sited on 1:2500 Description of the site and history of antiquarian and archaeological investigation, including a summary of Atkinson's excavation. Barker also states that the remains "are shown on all OS maps at SU 15137140,while they actually stand some 350m to the west at SU 14787135". (10)
The site of the long barrow is located within the area mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. In the light of Barker's comments, an attempt was made to determine the barrow's true location. Information received from Prof PJ Fowler suggested that Barker's assertion was based, in part, on a site visit during which he apparently found a pile of stones in a hedge at his preferred location. Two slight mounds were recorded from APs in the vicinity of Barker's revised location, but are probably abraded field system lynchets. At the location originally given on OS maps (SU 15137140) most APs from 1946-1982 show a clump of rough vegetation covering an area of disturbed ground and obscuring surface detail, although CUCAP photographs taken in 1954 show an area of bulldozer damage at this spot. It seems likely that the stones noted by Barker had been moved by bulldozer from their original location, and that the grid reference indicated on OS maps is correct. (11-13)
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Details of site on Pastscape
An Iron Age "developed" multivallate hillfort with substantial earthwork remains. The hillfort measures 400m wide east to west by 290m wide north to south. It is one of a number of hillforts located on or close to the line of the Iron Age and later Ridgeway (see NMR LINEAR60). The hillfort is located at the western end of the ridge of Barbury Hill at a height of 265m. The hillfort comprises two concentric rings of banks and ditches enclosing an oval area of circa 4.5ha and has entrances, which both measure circa 10m wide, at the eastern and western ends aligned with the ridge. A track, possibly an offshoot of the Ridgeway, extends between the entrances and was adopted as the parish boundary between Wroughton and Ogbourne St Andrew. The eastern entrance is defended by a right angled outwork which comprised a ditch and bank that extends out from the main hillfort and which may be the remains of an earlier Bronze Age enclosure as the hillfort banks appear to overlay it. The northern part of the outwork has become in-filled due to 20th century cultivation. Excavations have uncovered Iron Age rubbish pits. Iron Age /Roman, Anglo-Saxon finds have made and Anglo-Saxon inhumations have been found. The hillfort was used for defence / training by the United States Army during the Second World War and they caused significant damage to the western entrance when they widened it. The interior of the hillfort also suffered damage from bombing and the construction of slit trenches (see NMR SU 17 NW 152 and NMR SU 17 NW 153, respectively). Immediately northwest of the hillfort lies a flat topped Bronze Age bowl barrow (see NMR SU 17 NW 154) and just to the west is a Bronze Age disc barrow (see NMR SU 17 NW 7). A post medieval dewpond has been constructed on the south-e
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Details of site on Pastscape
A stone circle near Clatford was first recorded by John Aubrey in the 17th cent. In 1723 Stukeley noted that in the lane, or rather Roman Road between Marlborough and Devizes, over against Clatford and on the edge of the meadow just by the side of the Kennet, close to Clatford Bottom "lie twelve stones flat upon the ground in the middle of the road which seems to widen on purpose for it and takes a little turn, too, upon that account. Eight of them seem to lie in a circle (see plan (2)) and the other four may possibly have been the entrance or beginning of an Avenue; they are all very large, being about the size and shape of the stones of the outer circle of Stonehenge.
I measured one, 16 1/2ft long, 2yds broad .... There are two barrows within site of it .... a little further westward you turn on the right into the fields which leads (leaving a barrow on the left hand) into the Clatford Bottom".
The stones have long since disappeared, Colt Hoare only being able to cite Aubrey as evidence, and AC Smith could not identify the site in the 1880's (1).
Free (3) considers the site to be on a piece of unenclosed ground SE of Clatford cross roads on which there is still a Pound, (SU 16106840). The area is known as Broken Crosses.
Grinsell (4) sites the circle to SU 16106855, quoting Piggott. Meyrick, however, mentions 'The Broadstones' as being the local name for the circle and "Broadstone W Meadow" shown by Smith as the Tithe Map name for the narrow strip between the Bath road and the Kennet, bounded on the west by Clatford Bottom and on the east by Plough Cottage. (Area SU 16126900) "Bradstone mede" can be dated back to 1466. (5). (1-5) A topographical view of the stone circle, bisected by a road and contained within wide verges, appears on a drawing of 1722 (b). The site lies above Broadstone Mead (c) on the N side of the river where the road forms a junction with a secondary track. (6) The map with the Inclosure Award of 1792 (d) suggests that the "Lord Bruce's Arms" now "Elm cottage" at SU15916898, was built where the road had locally widened or deviated. There is now no evidence of this, though it is feasible, and the plot lies immediately north of "Broadstone Watermeadow" (e). Stukeley's ground observations of barrows etc, can also be deduced from this area. The siting indicated by Grinsell and Free seems largely based on the field name "Broken Crosses". Neither the Tithe nor the Inclosure map shows any local widening of the road in the vicinity. (7)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A Bronze Age bowl barrow, listed by Grinsell as Preshute 1a, excavated in 1906 by B and M Cunnington. Approximately central beneath the mound was a crouched inhumation, said to be an adult female, lying on the former ground surface, accompanied by numerous objects including a bronze knife-dagger with amber pommel, a small dagger blade, 150 shale beads, some amber beads, a gold-bound amber disc, a gold-bound shale bead, a small gold "halberd pendant" with bronze blade, some bronze awls, and a small pottery "grape cup". An incense cup was found a short distance away. Elsewhere in the mound was an upright Collared Urn, though no accompanying cremation was found. All the finds are in Devizes Museum. The skeleton was reinterred after excavation and the barrow reconstructed.
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Details of site on Pastscape
Neolithic chambered long barrow first investigated by Stukeley in 1723. Listed by Grinsell as Preshute 10c. By the time of Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1975, only a large amorphous ground swelling existed. An elongated patch of chalk was observed during recent RCHME aerial survey.
SU 12907290) Long Barrow (NR)(site of)(NAT). (1)
The "Old Chapel" long barrow, length 100'; width 27'. Aligned NW-SE, large end first(2).Daniel quotes Stukeley(b)who examined it in 1723. The barrow, at the NW side of a large enclosure (SU 17 SW 94), had stone works at each end and was surrounded by stones. The burial chamber appears to have been at the NW, being a semi-ellipse of five stones, a stonehenge cell in miniature although in ruins, the stones being generally about 10' long. Daniel states that it seems likely that the barrow was once chambered. When O G S Crawford(4) visited it in 1921 he was able to recognise only a low mound, almost completely ploughed out.
Hoare(a) records that only one stone and slight traces of the barrow remained. (2-4)
A large amorphous ground swelling in arable land, indicates the site. No sarsens noted in the vicinity. Published 25" siting correct.(5) This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The barrow was not recorded by the AP survey. (6)
Re-examination of the air photographs for the Avebury World Heritage Site Project identified an elongated patch of chalk at this location, which is presumed to represent the badly eroded long barrow mound. (7)
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Details of Enclosure 2 on Pastscape
A sub-rectangular enclosure visible as a cropmark on air photographs, located immediately adjacent to barrows of the Beckhampton cemetery (SU 06 NE 76). Measuring circa 42 metres by 32 metres, its southeastern corner is cut by the A361. The enclosed area appears to contain traces of a mound.
[NB this site was formerly recorded as part of SU 06 NE 179. That record should be consulted for some additional sources and information]
An RCHME 1:2500 scale air photo interpretation survey was carried out in April 1992. An enclosure was noted, possibly related to the barrow group (SU 06 NE 76). The feature at SU 09246917 consisted of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area, measuring 42m x 32m containing traces of a mound, cut by the A361 on the S side. (1) The enclosure described by the previous authority has also been mapped at 1:10,000 scale. (2) Soffe lists the site as a possible barrow, though interpretation as an enclosure is more plausible on present evidence. It is unclear whether it is contemporary with or later than the barrow cemetery. (3, 4).
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Details of Enclosure 1 on Pastscape
A sub-rectangular ditched enclosure visible as a cropmark on air photographs. Circa 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, aligned north-south, only parts of the north, east and west sides are visible, the northwest corner also being clipped by the A361. It lies close to the Beckhampton barrow cemetery (SU 06 NE 76), but it is unclear if it is contemporary. Another sub-rectangular cropmark, SU 06 NE 273, also lies close by.
An RCHME, 1:2500 scale air photo interpretation survey (Event UID 965816) was carried out in April 1992. Two features were noted, possibly related to the barrow group described in SU 06 NE 76, but they were sub-rectangular rather than basically curvilinear as was the shape of the barrows. The first feature at SU 09246917 consisted of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area, measuring 42m x 32m containing traces of a mound, cut by the A361 on the S side. The second feature lay just to the south SU 09286916 and again suggested a parts of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area of ground, measuring 20m x 10m. This second site was much confused by recent agricultural marks. The archive created by this project (Collection UID 965795) is held by the RCHME. (1) The prehistoric or Roman enclosures, described by the previous authority, have also been mapped at 1:10,000 scale. The second sub-square enclosure described appears to be co-located with a small Bronze Age round barrow (see SU 06 NE 272 for a full description). (3-5) NB this record now deals solely with the southernmost enclosure, that at SU 09286917. The other enclosure has been recorded separately as SU 06 NE 273. Soffe (1993) lists the site as a possible barrow, though he notes alternative interpretations may be equally plausible. Despite the proximity of the barrow cemetery, without excavation it is impossible to assign date or function with any certainty. (2, 6)
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Details of enclosure on Pastscape
Double-ditched curvilinear enclosure with an internal pit visible as a cropmark within the henge at Avebury.
A 1:1000 scale level 3 photogrammetric survey of the features visible as parch marks within the henge at Avebury was carried out by the RCHME Air Photography Unit between the 17th and 28th June 1996. The survey was carried to record a newly discovered double-ditched enclosure situated within the north-western quadrant of the henge. The enclosure is cut by the garden wall of one of the houses on the northern side of road. Faint traces of the enclosure can be discerned within the garden. The enclosure is curvilinear with four convex sides and very curved corners. Within the enclosure there appears to be a central pit. No previous record of the site is known, and it was not recorded during the early surveys of the site, indicating that it had been eroded or flattened very early on. A morphological parallel has been suggested between this and the Neolithic oval barrow at Radley nr Abingdon (Bradley 1992 and Wilson 1982). Photogrammetric plans were prepared with the aid of the AERIAL 4.20 rectification software published by Bradford University. The resultant plan was combined with the RCHME earthwork survey at 1:1000 scale. Also included were the parchmarks noted on the ground in 1990 by the RCHME Field survey. The plan, report and digital files are held by the RCHME (Collection UID 1057206). (1) A discussion of the cropmark, accompanied by photographs and transcription, has been published (4).
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Details of Barrow Cemetery on Pastscape
A Bronze Age barrow cemetery comprising 6 or 7 barrows located south of Beckhampton Penning. The group comprises four disc barrows (Grinsell's All Canning's Cross 23 and Avebury 65-7), 2 saucer barrows (Avebury 67a and b), and a cropmark ring ditch discovered subsequent to Grinsell's gazetteer. The four saucer barrows were excavated by Thurnham, probably in the 1850s. Few details were published by him, but one contained a pottery vessel ("Aldbourne Cup") with a cremation; a second contained a further Aldbourne Cup and cremation, this time with a bronze awl. The other two were "unproductive". However, it is impossible to say which of the barrows contained the cremation deposits. Thurnham may also have excavated the two saucer barrows, again withut result. All 6 of the barrows Thurnham refers to had apparently been dug into previously by persons unknown. The individual barrows are recorded separately. This record comprises general information about the group, plus specific information on the saucer barrow Avebury 66. Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1973 recorded this barrow as being 35 metres in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 0.2 metres deep. There was no trace of any central "tump" or outer bank surviving.
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Details of site on Pastscape
A possible prehistoric rectangular enclosure, surrounding a ring-ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible as cropmarks on air photographs.
Crop marks of a quadrangular enclosure surrounding a ring-ditch (SU 09336783) visible on air photographs. (1) Nothing visible on the ground or on OS AP. (2) The possible prehistoric enclosure and probably Bronze Age ring ditch described by the previous authorities has been mapped from air photographs. The enclosure is only partially visible, measures 100m by 120m, and is centred at SU 0930 6780. The west side of the enclosure is possibly attached to a series of faintly visible boundaries. The ring-ditch is probably the remains of a round barrow and measures 35m across. It is unclear how the enclosure and ring ditch are related, if at all.(3-4)
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Details of earthwork on Pastscape
Linear earthwork of presumed later prehistoric date, comprising an earthwork bank and ditch, running roughly east-west from Knoll Down towards White Horse Plantation. Three sections are the subject of two schedulings.
A generally well preserved, grass covered, linear boundary bank and ditch (erroneously described by Crawford (a) as the Old Bath Road - this feature is published and described on OS 25" about 100.0m to the N - extending almost continuously for 2320m in a NW-SE direction, from SU 05106958 to SU 07366918 along the S side of a dry valley in which are vestiges of Field Systems (see SU 06 NE 98, 123) A gap in the linear of some 200.0m occurs between SU 06976945 and SU 07136932 where its
continuity is represented by crop marks and a parish boundary. The earthwork has an average width of 12.0m with a flat-topped bank up to 7.0m wide and 1.2m high, but considerably reduced on the S facing scarp where it passes through arable and a ditch up to 1.0m deep on the higher side. At its N end the bank and ditch has been utilised and overlaid by a probable Md or later sheep penning (see SU 06 NE 50), and at its eastern extremity, the S side of the bank partially overlies the outer bank of a saucer barrow (see SU 06 NE 48). It seems most probable that the linear represents a LBA/EIA ranch type boundary. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (1) The possible prehistoric linear earthwork has also been mapped from air photographs. (2)
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
Two Bronze Age barrows on Knoll Down. A saucer barrow, Grinsell's Avebury 4, and a bowl barrow, Grinsell's Avebury 5. Both are still extant as earthwork mound with associated ditches, and in the case of the saucer barrow, an outer bank.
(A: SU 07246922 and B: SU 07266921) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Two barrows on Knoll Down listed by Grinsell (2) as (A) Avebury 4: saucer barrow, mound 58ft by 2ft ditch 10ft by 6ins, outer-bank 10ft by 6ins, overlapped by a ditch. (B) Avebury 5: ditched bowl barrow, 13 paces by 3ft. Crawford (3) however describes both of these as bell barrows. (2,3)
Avebury 4: A saucer barrow; overall diameter 30.0m. Mound 15.0m diameter 0.9m high; ditch 3.5m wide by 0.3m deep; outer bank 4.0m wide by 0.2m high.
The NE quadrant of the outer bank is partially overlaid by a linear earthwork (SU 06 NE 135).
Avebury 5: A ditched bowl barrow; overall diameter 15.0m; mound 11.0m diameter, height 1.3m. The ditch well defined as a vegetation mark, is overlaid on the W by the outer bank of the adjacent saucer barrow. The tumuli are somewhat obscured by rank grass. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4)
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Details of site on Pastscape
A subtle earthwork long mound seen in a 2006 lidar survey. (SU 0696 6835) (1)
A roughly rectangular subtle earthwork mound 39m long and 24.5m wide was seen near to the Roman road on the south slope of West Down (SU 0696 6835). The mound is on an east-west alignment and lies parallel to a large oval barrow/ enclosed twin barrow (NMR 215549) and adjacent to a line of three round barrows (NMR 215546). There is slight hint of a side ditch on the north side of the mound. The mound has been disturbed by pits that have been used for dumping hay and has two linear scarps running across it. It is possible that this could represent a flattened prehistoric feature such as long barrow or earthen long mound or it could be an area of dumped material or a natural peri-glacial deposit
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
Two Bronze Age bowl barrows on West Down, Grinsell's Avebury 1 & 2. Both are extant as earthwork mounds, and both feature surrounding ditches.
(A : SU 06496902 and B: SU 06516904) Tumuli (NR). (1) Two bowl barrows on West Down.
(A) Avebury 1: ditched, 15 paces by 2 ft. (B) Avebury 2: 24 paces by 5 ft. A sarsen at the NE. (2)
Avebury 1: Ditched bowl barrow overall diameter 20.5m; mound 14.5 diameter, 1.0m high; ditch 3.0m wide, 0.5m deep. Avebury 2: Ditched bowl barrow 29.0m overall, diameter of mound 21.0m, height 1.8m with 0.9m oval depression in top. Both barrows are grass covered and well preserved. The sarsen (published as 'Boulder' on OS 25", 1924) has been removed. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (3)
The Bronze Age round barrows, described by the previous authorities, have been mapped from air photographs. (4)
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Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Two Bronze Age bowl barrows (Grinsell's Avebury 7 & 7a) and a bell barrow (Avebury 8a) on West Down. All have suffered plough damage, with 7 and 7a now visible as cropmarks.
('A' SU 0711 6844; 'B' SU 0707 6840; 'C' SU 0702 6837). Tumuli (NR). (1) On West Down - Avebury 7 (B); bowl barrow 18 paces by 1 ft. Avebury 7a (A) ploughed out bowl. Avebury 8a (C) SU 0702 6837; bell barrow, mound 75 ft by 7 ft, berm 15 ft, ditch 15 ft by 1 1/2 ft, eastern half on arable, sarsen on the top. (2) Avebury 7: A ploughed down bowl barrow; diameter 19.0m, height 0.3m. Now under grass. Avebury 7a: Now represented by a vague unsurveyable ground swelling; in arable.
Avebury 8a: A bell barrow, now under grass 39.0m overall diameter, with a mound 2.2m high and ditch 0.3m deep. The intermediate berm is 3.5m wide in the W, but ploughing in the E has almost obliterated it. A line of mature trees stand on the inner edge of the ditch on the E side.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. (3)
The Bronze Age barrows were visible on air photographs. `A' (Avebury 7a) is visible as a ring ditch with a ploughed mound in the centre, `B' (Avebury 7) is visible as a ring-ditch. `C' (Avebury 8a) is still visible as an earthwork mound half covered in trees. The three barrows are roughly aligned north-east south-west. Another Bronze Age barrow (SU 06 NE 142) is almost on the same alignment to the south west. (4-6)
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
Avebury 20a, 50, 51, 52 & 53 plus assorted ring ditches on Waden Hill. One extant bowl barrow (50) plus the cropmark remains of eight other barrows, one of them apparently a disc barrow (20a). Two of the monuments comprise paired concentric ring ditches. No record of any excavations.
(A: SU 10366925) Tumulus (NR) (site of) (1)
A bowl barrow and group of ring ditches on Waden Hill.
(A) Avebury 50 30 paces x 1 ft. Described by Crawford as a long barrow (3).
(B) (SU 10376928) Ring-ditch AP.
(C) SU 1034 6927 Avebury 52 Bowl barrow 15 paces in dia. Ring-ditch AP.
(D) SU 1034 6929 Avebury 51 Bowl barrow 15 paces in dia. Ring-ditch AP.
(E) (SU 1034 6933) Ring-ditch AP.
(F) (SU 1032 6937) Ring-ditch AP.
(G) SU 1037 6932 Avebury 20a Disc barrow. Poss 100 ft overall dia. Ring-ditch A P.
(H) (SU 1040 6932) Ring-ditch AP.
(J) SU 1049 6944 Avebury 53 Bowl barrow 30 paces in dia. Ring-ditch AP. (2-4)
A. SU 1037 6925 Bowl barrow 22.0m dia, 0.5m high.
B. SU 1037 6928; Concentric ring ditches, 20m and 31m dia.
C. SU 1035 6928; Concentric ring ditches, 10m and 18m dia.
D. SU 1035 6929; Ring ditch 16m diameter.
E. SU 1034 6931; Ring ditch 15m diameter.
F. SU 1033 6933; Ring ditch 20m diameter.
G. SU 1037 6933; Ring ditch 34m diameter.
H. SU 1041 6934; Ring ditch 20m diameter.
J. SU 1047 6943; Ring ditch 30m diameter.
B - J are visible as AP soilmarks only but their position and dimensions suggest the sites of barrows. Surveyed at 1:2500 from OS AP's. (5)
Cropmark remains of nine probable Bronze Age round barrows recorded and described by authorities 1-5. In addition to these, there are two further barrows located at the southern end of the group: At SU 1038 6919 is a small earthwork mound, possibly a barrow, and at SU 1038 6917 is an incomplete ring ditch with a diameter of approximately 20m. (6-7)
The barrow group shows up very well on Google Earth 12/31/2002. (8)
Scheduled. For the designated record please see The National Heritage List for England. (9-10)
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Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Bronze Age disc barrow Avebury 53a, presumed destroyed but recorded by Stukeley during the 18th century at the south-east end of Waden Hill, and apparently cut by the Roman road. Both Grinsell and Crawford offered approximate sitings, although Ordnance Survey field inspection and recent RCHME AP interpretation recorded nothing at the suggested location(s). Archaeological evaluation and excavation along the course of a sewer pipeline in 1993 identified a ring ditch which has been identified as "Stukeley's" barrow.
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Details of site on Pastscape
Two distinctive mounds of an unknown origin located close to Faulkner's circle seen on a 2006 lidar survey
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Details of site on Pastscape
A Neolithic enclosure at Beckhampton, located within Longstones Field. Geophysical survey undertaken in 1989 had revealed possible archaeological features in the vicinity of the Longstones (SU 06 NE 56), the primary aim being to demonstrate the existence or otherwise of the Beckhampton Avenue (SU 06 NE 62). The geophysical survey hinted at the existence of a possible enclosure, something confirmed by RCHME in 1997 when the enclosure was photographed from the air as a cropmark. The enclosure forms a flattened oval, circa 140 metres by 100 metres, and is aligned northeast-southwest. There is a substantial gap in the course of the enclosure ditch on the eastern side, where the traces of the Beckhampton Avenue were found. One of the two Longstones falls within the enclosure, and the postulated Beckhampton Avenue therefore runs into the enclosed area, although the chronological relationship between the two is unclear. Trial trenching in 1998 failed to locate the northern side of the enclosure, although more extensive trenching the following year was more successful. The interior appears to be remarkably free from features of broadly contemporary date. The cropmarks had suggested a possible palisaded enclosure similar to those discovered at West Kennet Farm. Excavation showed a continuous ditch but of segmented construction, resembling the first phase of Stonehenge. There are hints that an internal bank may have been present. Dating evidence so far is limited to part of a single Grooved Ware vessel (ie later Neolithic) found just above the primary silting. Some animal bone was also present, and these finds may have been placed in shallow recuts. A single sherd from the primary silt has been provisionally identified as earlier Neolithic.
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Details of Barrow on Pastscape
A Bronze Age barrow cemetery comprising 13 monuments, only one still extant as an earthwork. The remainder have been recorded from air photographs. The extant mound, Grinsell's Avebury 19b, is extant as an oval turf-covered mound measuring circa 26 metres by 21 metres across and up to 1.3 metres high. The oval shape appears to be partly caused by deposition of spoil from an extensive central mutilation, presumably an unrecorded antiquarian excavation. In 1992, it was noted that the mound had been dug into once more, and was in need of repair. The spoil from this episode contained a flat, rivetted copper alloy dagger, plus Bronze Age potsherds, struck flint, and cremated bone. See associated monument records for other barrows, ring ditches and cropmarks in this group.
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
The side ditches of a Neolithic long barrow were seen as a soil mark in a 2009 aerial photograph (1) (SU 1077 6951) The site is situated at the end of a prominent ridge 450m to the south east of the henge at Avebury and is aligned west to east. The dark curvilinear ditch could be the remains of a Cranborne Chase style long barrow, which are distinguished by side ditches that generally continue around one end of the mound. This one features a gap or causeway across the ditch at its enclosed end, something that is also known at other such sites, such as the Thickthorn Down long barrow.
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Details of Stone Circle on Pastscape
(SU 09856713) Stone Circle (NR) (remains of). (1)
Excavations at a scatter of stones, nearly a mile south of Silbury Hill, by Smith and Long in 1877, revealed the remains of a roughly oval setting of stones (see plan) enclosing an area 261ft by 216ft. Identified by Smith with Stukeley's very large oblong work like a long barrow, made only of stones pitched in the ground, no tumulus (2) which Stukeley says is on 'the heath south of Silbury Hill'. According to Grinsell (3) in 1950 the ground had long been arable and the stones were lying in heaps with probably hardly any in situ. SU 09886716 Soilmarks of a bank with both inner and outer ditches, forming the NE half of a rough circle, possibly some 60.0m overall diameter. It is not possible to determine precisely if this feature is associated with either the setting of stones, or the later field system (SU 06 NE 68) but stones and soilmark together form a rough oval centred a SU 09876715. (4) In arable ground, no trace of either the soilmark or the stones. Soilmark surveyed from OS APs (4)(5) Description of the site and a brief account of its history (6). The status of the site and its date are uncertain. Not mentioned by Burl (7), Barnatt suggests that the site is better interpreted as an enclosure, comprising of many small contiguous stones in a sub-oval ring of c.80m x 66m. (6-8) The only enclosure visible on air photographs, in the vicinity of the location given by the previous authorities, forms part of an extensive field system that covers the area (described in full SU 06 NE 68). This enclosure is defined by banks and is rectilinear but with very curved corners. No trace of the stones or any accompanying circular or oval enclosure was visible on the available air photographs. (9)
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Details of Stones on Pastscape
('A' SU 08896930; 'B' SU 08926933) Long Stones (NR). (1) The Beckhampton Long Stones, two standing stones, also known as "Longstone Cove","Adam and Eve", and the "Devil's Coits". In Aubrey's time there were three stones and Stukeley, who records the breaking up of the third stone, considered that they once formed "a cave or cell" on the northern side of the Beckhampton Avenue (see SU 06 NE 62), the smaller extant stone
(B) being part of the Avenue. (2) The larger stone, that at the SW (A) fell in 1911 and during its re-erection in the following year by B H and M E Cunnington a crouched skeleton with Bi beaker was discovered at its foot. Skeleton and beaker are now in Devizes Museum. (3)
The two sarsens remain standing in ploughland. The largest stone at SU 08896930 is 3.3m by 1.3m at base with a height of about 3.8m; the smaller 30.0m to the NE, is 2.2m by 2.3m at base and up to 3.5m high. Published 1:2500 survey correct; symbols redepicted. (4) See Avebury (SU 16 NW 22) and Beckhampton Avenue (SU 06 NE 62) for relevant bibliography, including discussions on the lack of evidence for the latter's existence. Ucko et al (5) report on geophysical survey within the area around the longstones, and raise the possibility that they may represent the remains of a distinct monument themselves, separate from Avebury. Burl (6), reviewing Ucko et al, appears to accept the suggestions of Stukeley and Twining that there was a "genuine Beckhampton Avenue" which included the Longstones in its course. (5-6)
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Details of the Long Barrow on Pastscape
(SU 08706915) Long Barrow (NR) (1) North of Beckhampton - Avebury 17: a mutilated long barrow with traces of side-ditches, orientated NE/SW, 225 ft long by 120 ft wide by 14 ft high. Excavated by Merewether (1820-1850), primary deposit not found part of secondary Bronze Age urn (Deverel Rimbury showing Cornish influence) containing burnt bones and a bit of bronze (dagger?). Urn now in Devizes Museum. (2-3) SU 08706914 The long barrow, up to 6.0m high, is 84.0m long, NE-SW, and 35.0m wide, with clearly defined side ditches which Average 0.6m in depth, and are each 24.0m wide. The mound has been severely mutilated and its terminals ploughed, although it is now under pasture.Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4) Listed in Kinnes' gazetteer of long barrows but excluded from his gazetteer of excavated barrows, presumably due to the poor quality of the excavation record. (5) Finds in Devizes Museum from Mereweather's investigation described as consisting of the upper part of a biconical urn with finger Impressions on rim and body. Cremation and bronze dagger (?). (6) The Neolithic long barrow, described by the previous authorities, is visible on early air photographs but has been covered with trees since then. (7-8) The barrow was first recorded by William Stukeley in the early-to-mid 18th century. He noted that it had been "much damaged by the digging chalk out of it and perhaps stones". Merewether, in a note published after his death, referred to the discovery (by him?) of "fragments of a large unburnt urn, having the peculiarity of a handle;...[it] contained but bones and a piece of bronze, probably a spearhead. This barrow has been on several occasions reduced for purposes of husbandry, and has generally produced such relics. It appears to have been used at different periods as a place of sepulture, and might yet repay further investigation." Later in the 19th century, Smith referred to two sarsens being visible on the top of the mound. The bronze object as depicted by Merewether is difficult to identify. It has been referred to on occasions as a dagger, but this is far from certain. Gerloff does not include it in her gazetteer of British Bronze Age daggers, although she does include other finds known only from Merewether's drawings. Her gazetteer does not include any definite associations of daggers with biconical urns. (2, 5, 6, 9-12)
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Details of the Long Barrow on Pastscape
(SU 09036927) Long Barrow (NR) (site of) (1)
South east of the Long Stones, South Street - Avebury 68, a ploughed down long barrow (see plan (3)) sited to SU 09026928 (2). Revealed by excavation to be unchambered and probably unfinished (2). The excavation in 1966-7, by Evans on behalf of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society found no burials in the mound, which had been preserved to a height of two feet, but fragments of antler were discovered both in the mound and in the primary fill of the ditches.
Finds from the soil beneath the mound consisted of Windmill Hill sherds, two sickle flints and many flakes. From the buried soil in the ditches came sherds of Peterborough and Beaker ware, barbed and tanged and flint laurel-leaf arrowheads and animal bone (4 & 5). Radio-carbon analysis of finds date the barrow to the first half of the 3rd millennium BC (6). The long barrow is now represented by an unsurveyable amorphous ground swelling, centred at SU 09006072, in ploughland. Re-sited at 1:2500. (7) The final report of the 1964-7 excavations appeared in 1979 (8). The earthen and chalk mound had been constructed as a series of infilled bays defined by wooden fences offset at right angles from a central long axis. A crescent shaped zone of massive chalk rubble defined the front of the mound. A number of sarsens of varying size were incorporated into the mound. The mound material came from flanking ditches. Finds included a quantity of animal bone, 2 human skull fragments, plus pottery and flint assemblages. The potsherds included plain bowl fragments, plus Peterborough wares in secondary ditch fill, and Beaker and later material associated with cultivation in Beaker and subsequent periods. Radiocarbon dates range from 2810 plus/minus 130 bc to 2580 plus/minus 110 bc. An important feature of pre-barrow activity was the presence of two sets of grooves scored into the the subsoil and crossing each other at right angles. These have been interpreted as marks caused by cross-ploughing. (8) Additional references: long barrow. (9-10) Additional references: ploughmarks. (11-13) The Neolithic long barrow, described by the previous authorities, was visible, on oblique air photographs, as a cropmark of a ploughed oval mound, oriented roughly east west, and measuring 45m by 20m. Dark marks at the east end of the barrow and linear features visible over the barrow are probably the result of the excavations detailed in the previous references. The possible remains of side ditches to the barrow are visible as dark marks flanking the mound but these were too amorphous to be certain. The long barrow aligns on the southern of the two Beckhampton stones (SU 06 NE 56). The barrow is visible as a low mound on vertical air photographs. (14-15)
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Details of the Avenue on Pastscape
Beckhampton Avenue, an avenue of stones which, according to Stukeley, extended from the west entrance of Avebury across the Winterbourne, and on in a south-westerly direction south of the Long Stones (see SU 06 NE 56), one of which could have probably formed part of the Avenue, to a spot in the valley west of Beckhampton (SU 100690 to SU 082688, see plans (2) (3)) and called by him Beckhampton Avenue. Stukeley considered its length equal to that of the West Kennet Avenue, with the transverse and longitudinal intervals of the stones similar. By the time Stukeley made his plans there remained only thirty-odd stones (all but three recumbent) some in pairs, out of possibly two hundred, and by the end of the 18th century nothing remained except the Long Stones. "On the whole, then, the grounds for accepting the former exsistence of the Beckhampton Avenue seem to be strong, though the question of its full extent and precise relationship to the Long Stones must remain open." (1) Stukeley's theory was supported by the finding in 1968, during the inspection of cable trenches of (i) the possible robbing pit of a stone in the High Street, Avebury SU 099699 and (ii) a buried stone beside the A4 road SU 087690, both on line with the Avenue. (1-5)
No evidence of the Beckhampton Avenue remains except for the Long Stones. No further information regarding the "finds" made in 1968. (6) A large buried sarsen at SU 08776897 and a possible stone robbing hold at SU 08766898, 12.0m to the W, were encountered in October 1965 in a GPO trench. Identified by Mrs Vatcher as almost certainly part of the Beckhampton stone row recorded by Stukeley. (7)(7a) Accounts of the discovery of the recumbent sarsen (8). Extracts from this particular record (notably those prepared by R1 and F2 above) were singled out for criticism by Ucko et al (9) as an example of the 'continuing fascination in attempting to fit the occasional find of sarsens, pits, and other features into Aubrey's or Stukeley's presumed patterns'. The debate as to whether the Beckhampton Avenue existed at all is touched on in many of the items listed in the bibliography for Avebury (SU 16 NW 22) and is discussed most recently by Ucko et al, who also published the results of the geophysical survey carried out in January 1989 in the area of the Longstones (SU 06 NE 56), the findings of which 'neither disprove nor support Stukeley's firm assertion of the presence of an avenue.' Burl (10) argues for impartial independent support for Stukeley's 'firm assertion' in the work of Rev Thomas Twining. Twining's plan is reproduced by Ucko et al (p. 38). Twining depicted a wedge-shaped pattern of avenues which he regarded apparently as representing the island of Britain as conceived by the Romans. (8-10)
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Details of the Stone Circle on Pastscape
(SU 10976931) Stone Circle (NR)(remains of) (1)
A standing stone is all that remains of a former circle of stones known as 'Falkner's Circle'. (2)
It is situated about 280 yds east of the West Kennett Avenue, and was described by Falkner in 1840 as consisting of one stone standing, and two recumbent, with the holes of nine others visible (see plan). The ground within the 120 ft diameter circle was completely flat.(3) No change. Published 1:2500 survey correct. (4) Falkner's Circle described simply by Burl as "12 stones set in a 36.6m ring. One stone has survived the intensive farming of the 19th and 20th centuries" (5). Barnatt notes that any stoneholes are now untraceable due to ploughing. (6) Malone (7) refers to the monument as the 'Faulkener ring', and states that it was associated with a neaby barrow (presumably SU 16 NW 44 or 67) and further suggests that the circle 'may date from the early Bronze Age, or the Beaker period'. No excavation has occurred, so dating and association with nearby monuments as well as the original form of the monument, remain uncertain. (5-7)
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Details of site on Pastscape
Ne occupation site was discovered by Piggott and Keiller in 1934, along the West Kennet Avenue (see plan) between stones 27 and 32, 10706925, which antedated the Avenue across it (see SU 16 NW 22.2). A number of hearths or fire-pits and two rubbish pits were excavated and the whole area yielded Peterborough and Rinyo-Clacton sherds, petit tranchet derivatives, knives, scrapers with polished edges, two fragments of Niedermendig Lava, arrowhead of Portland chert, and two fragments of axes of Graig Lwyd stone. Finds now in Devizes Museum. (1-3) No surface evidence. (4) Discussion of finds from the site. See Avebury (SU 16 NW 22) and West Kennet Avenue (SU 16 NW 101) for additional bibliography] (5)
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Details of the Avenue on Pastscape
(SU 10326975 to SU 11846802) Stone Avenue (NR) (remains of)
In the main part of the West Kennett stone avenue there are 27 upright stones with heights ranging from 1.6 metres to 3.3 metres. Sites of stones are marked by 37 concrete pillars. (The modern spelling, signposts etc., is "Kennett", replacing the earlier "Kennet". Resurveyed at 1/2500.
The West Kennet stone avenue links the henge enclosure and stone circle complex at Avebury (SU 16 NW 22) with the Stone circle site known as the Sanctuary (SU 16 NW 102) on Overton Hill, running in an approximately south-easterly direction from the former to the latter. The course followed is by no means a direct one, with notable changes in direction as the Avenue approaches both Avebury and the Sanctuary. Excavations by Keiller in the 1930s focussed particularly on the northern end of the avenue as it approached Avebury, and resulted in the re-erection of some fallen stones and the marking out on the ground of the positions of stones no longer extant in this area. A Neolithic occupation site was also discovered alongside the stones (SU 16 NW 39). (4) Human remains and pottery, including part of a Beaker, have been found beneath some stones or in some stone holes. (4-5) Ucko et al (6) report on geophysical survey along sections of the avenue which suggests a more irregular course than previously thought. They also examine antiquarian accounts in detail.
The probably mistaken suggestion that a cove once stood within the avenue is discussed by Ucko et al (6) and (Burl) (7). (6-7) [See SU 16 NW 22 and 102 for more detailed bibliography. See SU 06
NE 62 for details of the Beckhampton stone avenue, which allegedly ran from Avebury's western entrance.]
An RCHME 1:2500 scale, level 3 air photographic interpretation survey (Event UID 936869) was carried out on this monument in January 1992. The monument is extant and no changes were made to the record. The archive created by this project (Collection UID 936807) is held by RCHME. (8)
West Kennett Avenue is formed by two roughly parallel rows of standing sarsen stones dating to around 3000 BC. The Avenue winds its way across the landscape east of Waden Hill and the River Kennett for a distance of about 2.3 km. In the best preserved 800 metre section there are 27 upright stones. Some of these have been restored to their original positions and in other locations there are concrete markers showing where stones are originally likely to have been positioned. The two rows stand on average 15 metres apart with the stones in each row about 20 metres apart. In 1913, a burial was found in the socket pit beneath one of the stones and further pits and features have been found within the line of the avenue or in close proximity. Keiller uncovered an occupation site containing hearths, rubbish pits, pottery sherds and other remains. At the southern end of the Avenue is a linear earthwork bank, which is believed to be associated with medieval management of the Kennet Valley. However it's location could indicate an earlier origin. The bank runs for about 320 metres and is 7 metres wide and up to a metre high. In the area between the Avenue and River Kennet there have been numerous finds including stone axes, pottery, Romano-British jewellery and coins.(9)
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Details of the Long Barrow on Pastscape
West Kennet Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered burial mound situated just below the crest of a north east facing slope overlooking Silbury Hill. Recent radiocarbon studies have dated it to the 37th century cal BC and it was in use for at least a thousand years. The mound is trapezoidal in plan and measures about 104 metres in length, 25 metres at the widest point and 3.2 metres at the highest point. The forecourt is situated at the eastern end of the mound. Beyond this is the entrance into the mound, which leads to a 12 metre central passage with five small sub-circular chambers opening off it; a pair to each side and an end chamber. The chambers vary in size from 2 to 4 metres across with a maximum height of 2.5 metres. The long barrow was excavated in 1859 by J. Thurnam and in 1955-6 by S. Piggott, which included re-erection of many of the stones. The chambers of the long barrow were constructed of large sarsen boulders with drystone walling and contained the remains of at least 46 individuals including both inhumations and cremations. Many of the burials were incomplete - some bones were missing, while others had been grouped together in particular parts of the barrow. For example long bones and a quantity of vertebrae had been placed by the rear wall of the north west chamber. Pottery from the excavations included Windmill Hill type, Peterborough, Grooved Ware and Beaker sherds. The mound consisted of a core of sarsen boulders capped with chalk rubble cleared from flanking quarry ditches. These ditches, about 100 metres long and 5 metres wide, are now infilled but remain visible as earthworks. Final 'blocking' of the burial mound took the form of chalk rubble and other debris (including pottery, animal bone, flint implements and other objects) which was used to infill the passage and chambers. The forecourt at the eastern end was blocked with sarsen boulders and a 'false entrance' of twin sarsen uprights constructed.
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Details of the Sanctuary on Pastscape
(SU 11846802) The Sanctuary (NAT) Stone Circle (NR) (site of) (1)
The concrete blocks which denote the positions of the stones have been surveyed at 1/2500 but the concrete markers indicating the positions of the wooden post holes have been omitted (limitation of scale). (3)
The Sanctuary was the site of a pair of concentric stone circles. When visited in the later 17th century by Aubrey and early 18th century by Stukeley it seems that many of the stones were still extant although most had fallen. However the bulk of the stones appear to have been removed and/or destroyed in the years around 1724. The records of Aubrey and Stukely were used to relocate the site in 1930, and following its discovery it was completely excavated. The two stone circles proved to have been preceded by six concentric timber rings. Numerous artefacts came from post holes, but the phasing of the various circles remains unclear. The bulk of the pottery found was of later Neolithic date, including Grooved Ware, although both earlier (Windmill Hill) and later (Beaker) sherds were present. The site appears to be connected via
the West Kennet Avenue (SU 16 NW 101) with the henge-enclosure and stone circles at Avebury (SU 16 NW 22). Following excavation, the locations of the various post-holes and stone settings were marked out on the ground. (4-5)
Suggested reconstructions of the structures at the Sanctuary have been published by Piggott (6) and Musson (7). (6-7) [See SU 16 NW 22 for additional bibliography].
An RCHME 1:2500 scale, level 3 air photographic survey (Event UID 936869) was carried out on this monument in January 1992. The site is extant and no change was made to the record. The archive created by this project (Collection UID 936807) is held by RCHME. (8)
The archive and finds from the Cunningtons' excavations have been reconsidered by Pollard, who suggests a rather simpler phasing and constructional sequence for the site than previously suggested. The main construction phase is suggested to have occurred around 2500 BC and was associated primarily with Grooved Ware. Pre-construction activity is represented by earlier ceramic and lithic finds. A crouched inhumation with Beaker, found in a grave adjacent to one of the stones, was suggested by Cunnington to be broadly contemporary with construction. Pollard suggests that it is in fact among the last archaeologically visible events at the site, c.2000 BC (with the exception of the appearance of Romano-British potsherds in upper fills of features) (9).
The Sanctuary is known from partial excavation in the 1930s and 1960s to have had two concentric circles of stones and four concentric circles of timber rings. The outer circle measured about 40 metres in diameter and included 42 sarsen stones. Four main phases have been postulated: Phase 1: a 5 metre diameter circle of seven timber posts around a central post; Phase 2: a 6 metre diameter circle of 8 posts surrounded by a 11 metre diameter circle of 12 posts; Phase 3: an additional circle of 21 metre diameter of 33 posts. A smaller stone circle was constructed and an entrance built on the south eastern side; Phase 4: construction of the outer stone circle and the avenue from avebury was built. This indicates that the Sanctuary was important prior to the construction of the avebury henge and that it continued to be significant after. (10) Brief details of the site. (11)
Excavations in 1999 aimed to reconcile discrepancies between the original 1930's excavation report and the diary of W E V Young, the excavation foreman at the time. A number of important new finds were uncovered, including a large group of lithics, and new insights into the nature of the Sanctuary's construction are made. These include evidence that some of the posts were repeatedly renewed. (12)
The author puts his case for an earlier single-phase roofed structure. (13)
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Details of associated earthwork on Pastscape
Earthworks of an uncertain date seen along the edge of a low terrace overlooking the Kennett valley seen on a 2006 lidar survey. (1) (SU 1070 6824) This terrace would be unremarkable appart from the fact that its curve follows the projected course of the palisade enclosure 2, the larger of the main palisade enclosures of the West Kennett Palisade Enclosure complex. The terrace overlooks the mound 'Silbaby' and the Waden spring. The earthworks create an edge to the terrace which appears to have faint traces of ridge and furrow within the enclosure that the earthworks create. It is cut through at its west end by two drainage ditches. around its base at its east end is another drainage ditch that could be a part of the water meadow to the east (NMR 1500135).
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Details of site on Pastscape
The earthwork mound of uncertain date known as 'Silbaby' seen in a 2006 lidar survey. (1) (SU 1069 6831)
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Details of Barrow on Pastscape
(SU 10936931) Tumulus (NR) (1) East of the Kennett Avenue, Avebury 57; bowl barrow 27ft in diameter and almost ploughed out in 1965. (2-3) This barrow has now been completely ploughed out. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4) The diffuse ploughed out mound of a probable Bronze Age round barrow at SU 1093 6931 was mapped from RAF aerial photographs taken in 1946. (5) The mound of this barrow was seen in a 2006 lidar survey. (6)
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Hail and Welcome
Chance was born in Ratae in the year of the Rat, and grew up in the territory of the Corieltauvi. Now living days walk west of Wale-dich (Avebury), on the border between the Atrebates, the Durotriges and the Dobunni.
Practical experience of excavation on Neolithic, Bronze-age, Roman sites.
Enjoys exploring on bicycle, with wild camp provisions along Roman roads and ancient Celtic tracks. Interested in the various tribes, how they divided their land, their agricultural calendar, their common beliefs and ritual systems. Often attends the tribal meetings held at Avebury and Stonehenge.
Contact - Chippychance on UTube
http://www.youtube.com/chippychance
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