ON THE 



ARCH/EOLOGY OF THE COLN VALLEY 



AND 



NOTES ON THE WELSH WAY AND 



FOSS WAY 



BY JOHN SAWYER 



From Foss Bridge to its junction with the Thames at 

 Lechlade, the river Coin flows through a district which 

 has been occupied by man from very ancient times. The 

 earhest monument of human occupation is a long barrow 

 in the hamlet of Ablington, on the western edge of 

 Lambrough Banks covert. In its general proportions and 

 in its horned end it is similar to other long tumuli in the 

 county, but it differs from them in the character of its 

 masonry. Instead of, as is usual, being surrounded by a 

 single wall, this tumulus has a double wall, each wall 

 facing outwards, and the space between is filled with rubble. 

 In another respect, also, it is unHke most of the Glou- 

 cestershire long barrows, for instead of the interior being 

 a mere mound of debris, it was, says the late Canon 

 Lysons, " built up of loose stones placed in a slanting 

 position, converging to the centre, hke a succession of 

 roofs placed one upon the other, a kind of gutter 

 apparently running down the centre through the whole 

 course of the tumulus. A straight dry wall here and 

 there at intervals intersected this sort of roof at right 



