The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-24 00:00:00

~~

to be unrecognisable as any part of a particular instrument.
The features of this barrow were singular. There was no
indication that more than one person had been buried,
while the objects found were not placed in Ihe ordi-
nary manner, close by the body, but at distances from
it, the usual urn being deposited in an unusual fashion.
The subsequent two days were spent in examining three
barrows situate a mile to the north, and on the ridge of
the steep ground running down into Troutsdale.- The
first 4 feet in height and 30 feet in diameter, formed
entirely of stones, and having a circle of stones round the
base. The barrow contained several interments, which
were placed upon a pebbly flooring on the original surface.
On the north-west, about six feet from the outside, a de-
posit of burned bones was found, without any urn or flint.
Nine feet from the edge, and north of the centre line, was
another deposit of burned bones, scattered over a space of
three feet diameter, and among the bones portions of pot-
tery (evidently deposited as fragments), and an urn, orna-
mented with impressions of cord, herring-bone fashion.
The urn was broken into pieces by the pressure of the
stones, and it was difficult to tell whether it had contained
the burned bones or not. Among the bones was a veil
rare oval-shaped implement of flint (of which Mr. Green-
well has seen three or four specimens) which, unburned
itself,was deposited with the burned body. The flint is care-
fully chipped on one side, and has been probably used as a
knife, or to scrape hides or bones. About eight feet west a
the centre, and laid among the stones of the tumulus,were
partially burned portions of a tabia and an ulna—mere frag-
ments of a human body, evidently carelessly thrown in.
In the centre of the howe was a circle of stones set on
edge, 4ft.diameter. Within this, on the west side, was an
urn, so decayed that it fell into dust on exposure. This
contained burned bones, and had a smaller urn inverted at
its mouth, the smaller urn having two ears pierced as if
for the purposeTf suspension. The larger urn had a very
unusual semiciraflar cord-impressed pattern. East of this
circle another urn filled with burned bones was found, also
greatly decayed and unmanageable for preservation. East
of the circle, and 2ft. above it, was a detached fragment of
pottery. Above the central circle the stones were much
burned, and the surrounding earth showed more traces of
burning, than in any barrows yet examined.
The two other grave-hills, at a few yards distance, were
on natural elevations, to which stones had been added to
give increased height. The first was 16ft. diameter and
3ft. high. In the centre there was a hollow in the
natural ground, which contained a deposit of burned - I
bones and a single piece of calcined flint. The other waS
an irregular-shaped barrow, 16ft. long, 12ft. wide, and 2ift.
high, and had a similar hollow in the centre, also contain-
ing the remains of a burned body, with four calcined chip'
pings of foreign flint.
Two days more were occupied in the examination of
two howes, about a mile west -of " the Tremblers." The
first was of a very unusual form. The central portion,
doubtless the primary mound, was 27ft. in diameter; and
4ft. in height, but had on the south side an additional por-
tion, or secondary mound, projecting about sft. beyond the
circle. This evident addition was composed of sand just the
same as the parent barrow. This excrescent portion was
first dug into, and at lft. from the surface a deposit of burned
bones, scattered over an area of lift. diameter, was found,
and among the bones a small urn, of the "incense cup
type, ornamented in zig-zag lines, the triangles being
filled
in with parallel lines, all made in the clay with a pointed
instrument. A small flake of calcined flint, part a 5
bronze pin, and four jet beads, of differing lengths and
pattern, one having a hole from centre to side as if for a
button, were also found among the bones. The excava-
tion of the barrow proper was then commenced on the
north side. Eight feet north-east of the centre, and ift*
below the surface of the howe, a broken urn, lying among
burned bones, was' found. This urn was quite plait"
Among the bones also were found four remnants of fah",
Heated flint implements, all calcined, and one flake 0'
unburnt flint. On reaching the centre of the barrow*,
at one foot below the summit of the mound, portions of
three urns, all with burned bones were found. These urns
appeared to have been destroyed by the introduction into
the barrow of the burial next mentioned. Mr. Greenwe";
arrived at the conclusion that a subsequent burial
had clearly been made in a barrow already completed, as
well by re-opening as by addition to the side as first men-
tioned. This inserted interment lay 4ft. S.E. of the centre'
where on digging 2ft. deep a flat stone was found. This
covered an urn standing upright, and carefully packed
round with charcoal. One third part of the urn contained
the burnt bones of the body, the remaining space 1)611
filled up with charcoal, in which, however, was a seen
urn inverted, and containing soil and a few burnt bone'.
Among the bones in the larger urn was a flint wesl343/4
calcined, having lost part of the broader end. The flint is
struck from the core or nucleus at one blow, and is tilt
fashioned to a point, being finely chipped along the edge"
and over the upper surface. This is not an arrow-head--,
it may possibly be one of the many types of " thumb-flints'
or hand weapons. The larger urn is 13in. high, 104
wide •
wide at the mouth. Two lines of impressed cord ornament
the inside of the lip, and the outer rim has five lines °A
angular impressions, apparently made with the blunt ea('
of a piece of stick or bone. The smaller inverted urn is
yin. high and 6in. wide, and has the inner ornament of the
large one, the outside having a line of short slanting im-
pressions made in the clay, and is more generally orna-
mented by triangular arrangements of lines and cord im-
pressions over the outer surface. Still another burial was
found in the prolific barrow. About 6ft. S.W: of the centre,
and just below the surface of the howe, were three stones,
and under them a deposit of burnt bones, with an aril
crushed and decayed. The fragments show the height to
have been 7in. and the diameter Gin. ; the ornamentation
being the'same vertical and horizontal lines alternatebei-
arranged. Among the bones was a portion of a large an
well-made barbed arrow-head of flint, and three other frag;
ments of flint (wrought) all calcined. Again, just SX. °f
the large central urn, and placed on the natural ground was
ci
a very rudely made urn, 7in: high, siin. wide, marked
with irregularly placed impressions of apparently.loosa
twisted cord. In and around the urn were burnt Wel
and among them a small barbed arrow head of burnt
flint. This remarkable barrow showed signs of great barn-
inge—the south side had masses of burnt earth and stone*
and the north side had charcoal in great quantities—a
posit lft. thick running through the howe forsft.width, thea;
blocks of which were large, one piece of charcoal being
llin. long, 7in. wide, and 7in. deep. Mr. Greenwell sug-
gests the theory that the first members of a family dyil
were burned and inured, and that on the death of the chic
they were all interred in the same tumulus, subsequent
burials being added as the deaths occurred. Its
i
only in this way the great number of similar interments
can be accounted for.
_The other howe was 281 t. diameter'
and except on the south side had been previously cril.ede.
In the undisturbed part an urn, 121 in. high and llin.
with burned bones, and two flints were found.