144! Stonehenge and its Barrows. 



BoneSj in consecrated ground^ never lie quiet : and in London once 

 in ten yeares (or thereabout) the earth is carried to the dung- 

 wharfe/'' 



Stukeley (c. x.) thus speaks of the barrows : " I come in the last 

 place to speak of the barrows^ observable in great numbers^ round 

 Stonehenge. We may very readily count fifty at a time, in sight 

 from the place : easily distinguishable : but especially in the evening, 

 when the sloping rays of the sun shine on the ground beyond them. 

 These barrows are the artificial ornaments of this vast and open 

 plain. And it is no small entertainment for a curious person to re- 

 mark their beauties, their variety in form and magnitude, their 

 situation. They are generally of a very elegant campani/orm shape, 

 and done with great nicety. There is likewise a great variety in 

 their shape and turn, and in their diameters, in their manner; of 

 composition. In general, the}"^ are always on elevated ground, and 

 in sight of the temple of Stonehenge. For they all regard it. This 

 shews thej/ are but superficial inspectors of things, that fancy from 

 hence, great battels on the plain ; and that these are the tumultuary 

 burials of the slain. Quite otherwise, they are assuredly, the single 

 sepulchres of kings and great personages buried during a considerable 

 space of time, and that in peace. There are many groups of them 

 together, and as family burial places ; the variety in them, seems to 

 indicate some note of difference in the persons there interred, well 

 known in those ages. Most of the barrows have little ditches 

 around, extremely well defin'd. In many is a circular ditch 60 

 cubits in diameter, with a very small tumulus in the center. 60 or 

 100 cubits is a very common diameter in the large barrows. Often 

 they are set in rows, and equidistant, so as to produce a regular and 

 pretty appearance, and with some particular regard to the parts of 

 the temple, the avenues, or the cursus." 



In 1722 Lord Pembroke opened one of a pair of twin barrows 

 by the east side of the road from Wilton to Stonehenge. 



• " On the west side, he made a section from the top to the bottom, 

 an intire segment, from center to circumference. The manner of 

 composition of the barrow was good earth, quite thro^ except a coat 

 of chalk of about two foot thickness, covering it quite over, under 



