126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



angles, so as to strengthen the fabric, the whole covered 

 with soil and turf at the northern or principal end."* 

 Directly in the centre of the curve formed by the horned 

 end, and between the two walls, was a stone six feet high 

 by five feet wide. Wood ashes, a few flints, and several 

 sling stones were found in the mound ; and at the narrow 

 end was a cist made of rough stones, containing one 

 skeleton. The presence of w'ood ashes points to burial 

 after cremation, and possibly small chambers containing 

 human dust may have been overlooked. Unfortunately, 

 when the barrow was opened in the summer of 1854, the 

 art of tump excavation was in a rudimentary stage ; but 

 we have reason to be grateful to a distinguished member 

 of our Club for placing on permanent record the character 

 and contents of an exceedingly interesting barrow, so far 

 as they were observed in an incomplete examination. 

 Even now considerable portions of the mound are 

 apparently undisturbed, but it is doubtful if further 

 excavation would reveal anything of special interest. 



About half-a-mile to the north-east of the long barrow 

 just described, in a field near some farm buildings known 

 as Oldwalls Sheds, is a tumulus not marked on the 

 Ordnance map, to which my attention was last summer 

 directed by Mr W. Mills, of Ablington, in whose field it 

 stands. In appearance it is a circular mound, about forty 

 or fifty feet in diameter, and eight or nine feet high, with 

 a low mound about fifty feet long and ten or twelve feet 

 w'ide on its northern side. By the kind permission of Mr 

 Mills, and with the aid of a stalwart quarryman, I was 

 able to examine its construction and contents, although I 

 am afraid that in so doing it has been robbed of its interest 

 for future antiquaries. We first of all dug into the low 

 extension of the barrow by cutting a trench across it, and 



* '• Our British Ancestors,' p, 31S. 



