82 Transactions of the 



The charcoal was continually found in small pieces throughout the 

 mound, but became thicker towards the centre, where a thin layer of 

 it occurred with some calcined stones. 



The internal construction of the barrow is not quite regular, as on 

 its east side the stones are closely j^acked together, and extend from 

 the top to the base, whilst on the west side the earth is more plentiful 

 than the stones. 



Tlie excavation had been carried on some way in without meeting 

 with any distinct signs of human remains. But when we reached the 

 centre of the tumulus, we met with the most interesting relics we 

 found. Under a heap of loose stones, on a level with the field, frag- 

 ments of a human skull were discovered, belonging chiefly to the 

 frontal and parietal regions. The largest piece is about two and a 

 half inches square. They are blanched and fragile, and from their 

 fractured condition, it appeal's that no care had been bestowed on 

 their burial. The evident hurry with which this skull was buried is 

 farther proved from the fact that it was deposited in no chamber, 

 cist, or any kind of coffin*, but merely laid on the ground, and stones 

 thrown over it. I have not yet connected the pieces, to ascertain the 

 dimensions of the skull : it is probably of early British type. Some 

 of its parts and the jaws ai'e missing ; but detached human teeth, 

 much decayed, though retaining some of their enamel, were found 

 close by it, together with part of a human femur and some finger 

 bones. Out of numerous other bones we exhumed, more human 

 remains may occur, but those just mentioned are all I am yet certain of. 



Canon Greenwell kindly gave me his opinion about this barrow, 

 which he thinks is decidedly of British origin, and pre-Roman date. 

 He says the mode of burial is a common one, and does not differ from 

 a large number of tumuli in the north of England. He also thinks 

 the human interment formed the central, or primary one, which sup- 

 position cannot be denied, for while most of the bones around it have 

 undergone the process of cremation, these remains have been deposited 

 unburnt. Their position alone would lead us to suppose that the 

 mound was reared on their account. The individual must have been 

 some one important, owing to the size of the barrow, probably a 

 warrior, over whose grave this monument was erected, which, perhaps, 

 marks the scene of his death. Its construction may have employed 

 the greater part of some tribe, each individual of which was anxious 

 to throw a stone on the funeral pile, as a tribute to the departed hero. 

 The beasts were, perhaps, sacrificed on the occasion, which theory 

 would account for their bones and the quantity of charcoal occurring 

 in close proximity. The history of the tumulus can thus be slightly 

 guessed at ; but whether the field in which it stands was the scene of 

 a battle, or why this spot was chosen for the dead, we are not hkely 

 to be ever informed. There may be other sepulchral deposits in the 

 adjacent fields, but no external monuments or barrows mark the spots, 

 and if there ever were such, they have long siuce been dispersed by 

 the spade or the plough. 



* No signs whatever of such constructions were met with. 



There were no more meetings this term, the time of tlie members being otherwise occupied. 



