186 



So far then this is almost identical with the plan of the chambers at 

 Uley, but the latter will be found to have fine slabs of stone placed roof- 

 wise on the tops of the upright stones; a feature, which if ever present at 

 Nym2:>sfield, as probable, must have been destroyed at some previous 

 opening. 



In both cases the work apj^ears to have been commenced on the surface 

 of the hill, with probably only just a sufficient trench to enable each 

 stone to be kept upright. Both hills offer examples of the upper beds of 

 the Inferior Oolite ; but in both cases, the stones used in constructing 

 the chambers consist of the lower freestones of the Great Oolite, which, 

 in all probability were quarried for the purpose at a distance of about 

 half a mile to the north-east of the Nympsfield Tumulus, at a place 

 called " Stone Hill." These stones had but little, if any, fashioning, but 

 their plank-like slabs varied to sizes of, — for the uprights, 5 feet square 

 to 1 foot thick ; for the roofing slabs at Uley, 6 or 7 feet square. 



It would appear that when the chambers were completed, and the 

 bodies placed in them, a stone roof was placed over the whole, and then 

 that the loose stones, earth, etc., were piled upon and over the whole, so 

 as to form the tumulus ; this method necessitating the construction of a 

 slight fosse, which is observable surrounding the tumulus, especially in 

 that of Uley. 



In the Nympsfield one this fosse is not so observable, probably from 

 the field having been for so long under the plough. Here, too, there was 

 a deep depression in the top of the mound, most likely left after the 

 former opening. 



The contents of the Nympsfield chambers, comprise — 



I. Human bones; a few of which had been burnt. 

 II. Bones of Inferior or Domestic Animals. 



III. A small fragment or two of Pottery. 



IV. A few flakes of Flint. 



I. As regards the human remains, it was deduced fromthirty-twoyemora, 

 which were counted by Dr. Bird, that the chambers, in the state in which 

 the Club examined them, presented evidences of the remains of at leaat 

 sixteen human bodies. 



These varied in size and in age from veiy old to young men and women, 

 with a few remnants of the bones of children ; so that whatever may be 

 true as regards other Tumuli of this period having been erected in honour 

 of a chieftain, here it seems quite certain that we have the remains of a 

 family or a tribe. 



