157 



On the tumuli, &c., of the CHALK RANGE. 



[ Continued from page 115. ] 



Ballard Down. At the western extremity of the hill, imme- 

 diately over the village of Ulwell is situated a Barrow, especially 

 interesting on account of its conspicuous position, being visible, 

 not only from the towns of Poole and Swanage, but from distant 

 high-lands, and also from the sea. For the sake of distinction I 

 will designate it the Ulwell barrow. Its original height must 

 have been considerably greater than at the present time ; the top 

 is now flattened, a boundary trench passes over, and probably 

 some land-mark might have been set up upon it. It measures 

 about eight feet above the surrounding level, seventy feet in 

 diameter, and seventy-six paces in circumference. 



In company with my friend Mr. Lester, I commenced its ex- 

 amination on the 24th of June, 1857, with six labourers. We 

 began simultaneously at the east and west sides, cutting a nine 

 feet wide trench completely through. Amongst the material of 

 which the upper portion was composed, we observed bones of 

 animals, and horses' teeth, many small pieces of sandstone, a 

 winkle shell, one valve of a common cockle, which was black- 

 ened by the ashes of burnt wood, two pieces of Kimmeridge 

 shale, frequent small pieces of pottery of the early British type, 

 a blue pebble, and many chippings of flints, amongst which was 

 an arrow-head very similar to one which is preserved in the mu- 

 seum at Dorchester. At a foot beneath the turf, we observed a 

 continuous layer, three inches in thickness, of the accustomed 

 mouldy earth, evidencing the fact that the barrow had not been 

 previously opened. At four feet beneath the apex we came upon 



