I06 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



with rubble. It was opened about forty years ago, and 

 found to have the horned end so characteristic of long 

 barrows all over the kingdom, and in the middle of the 

 curve between the ends stood a stone about 6 feet square. 

 At the north end was a chamber made of rough stones, 

 in which human bones were found. 



Another structure visited by the Club is of great 

 interest. It is an underground chamber, constructed 

 entirely of stone with dome-shaped roof. The diameter 

 of the chamber is about six feet, and it has an entrance 

 about two feet wide. A few stones on the crown have 

 been removed, but otherwise the structure is in an 

 excellent state of preservation. Locally it is known as a 

 shepherd's hut, but whatever it was it can never have 

 been built by or for shepherds. Canon Grecnwcll has 

 described two very similar structures, both at Nether 

 Swell. As to their antiquity he has no doubt whatever, 

 and he inclines to the belief that they were used for inter- 

 ments, and belonged to a transition period, when the long- 

 chambered barrow was being replaced by the round 

 tumulus for purposes of burial. 



About half a mile away is a barrow about TOO feet long 

 and 40 feet wide, wdiich has the appearance of a round 

 barrow 40 feet in diameter, with a low mound some 60 

 feet long extending on its northern side. This extended 

 mound had been dug into, but the loftier circular portion 

 had not been disturbed until it was recently opened by 

 Mr Sawyer. Digging downwards from the highest part 

 of the mound, he found that its central portion, about 10 

 feet in diameter, was composed entirely of stones, arranged 

 carefully from the centre, from which they had a slight 

 tilt. All the rest of the mound is of rubble. About two 

 feet east of the centre, and on the natural surface of the 

 ground, was a cist about 2 feet square and 9 inches deep, 

 containing phosphate of lime and dirt. The inference is 



