280 ■ 



Near Gatcombe Park there is another tumulus (No. 6 of the 

 foregoing table) which is interesting as forming in several 

 respects an exception to the other oval tumuli of the district. 

 It does not occupy, as the others do, the highest level of its 

 neighbourhood, for, although placed on a slight knoll, it is 

 overlooked from rising ground on its eastern side. In its 

 direction also it is exceptional, being placed due N. and S., the 

 broadest part being at about one-third of the entire length 

 from the north end of the mound. It is also the only example 

 in the district of a crowned burrow, — on the broadest part stands 

 a large stone, 6 feet in height, which bears the name of " Tingle 



Stone." 



The Avening Tumulus (No. 6) was opened in the year 1809 

 by the Eev. N. Thornbuky, Sector of Avening; three stone 

 chambers were taken out, removed to a grove in the rectory 

 garden, and there carefully set up in the forms and relative 

 positions they had occupied in the tumulus, so that even in 

 their present state they afford good examples of such sepulchral 

 chambers. The largest is 7 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 4 feet 

 high, and has one side formed by two stones so placed as to give 

 access to the chamber. 



The Lechmore Tumulus contained so recently as 1812 one 

 chamber, but the stones of which it was constructed have since 

 been removed for building material, and the mound itself is now 

 reduced in size year by year by the operation of the plough. 



Two ancient monuments, probably coeval with these large 

 oval tumuli, remain to be noticed. A few hundred yards to the 

 north of the Gatcombe Park Tumulus stands a fine monohth, 

 known as "The Long-stone." (Plate 2.) It is 7 i ft. high above 

 oTOund, and is popularly believed to be as much beneath the 

 surface. It is a block of a peculiar stratum of Great Oolite, 

 which in this district immediately underlies the surface soU. 

 From the circumstance that this stratum is pierced by ii-regular 

 holes, which become larger on exposure to the air, this monolith 

 presents a singular appearance. A much smaller stone stands 

 30 feet from the " Long Stone," and a third stone is stated to 

 have been removed during the present century. 



