345 



iarrato at ©gtonrne ^t ^nbreto's, Wxlb. 



By Mr. Cunnington, F Q.S. 



|)ANY of the barrows in this district are in the valleys, instead 

 of on the hiyh ground, as is usual in other parts of Wilts. 

 The position of the one now under consideration cannot be 

 more than a few feet above the adjoining stream. 



It is a large round barrow, situated in the north-east corner of 

 the churchyard ; but, though within the fence, is not on consecrated 

 ground, but is part of the estate of King's College, Cambridge, 

 and by the kind permission of the college authorities it was opened. 



Few instances are known of barrows adjoining churchyards, and 

 some hopes had been raised that as this — like the noted instance at 

 Taplow — was a large barrow in a churchyard, it would on examina- 

 tion yield similar remarkable results; but, though some curious 

 facts have been brought to light, we found no " Viking" at Ogbourne. 



The diameter from north to south is about 85ft., but it is difficult 

 to obtain the dimensions, owing to the encroachments of the church- 

 yard on the one side, and of the boundary hedges on the other. The 

 height was at least lift., but the top had been much mutilated by 

 late interments. 



Towards the east side, about 2ft. from the surface, two skeletons 

 were found; at a depth of about 3ft. six more; and many others 

 were subsequently discovered scattered through the barrow at about 

 tbis level; probably nearly twenty in all. They were of both sexes, 

 and were interred without coffins — some of them very near each 

 other-^in one instance the skulls touching. The orientation was 

 the same in all. The heads were directed, though not strictly, towards 

 the west. The skeletons were fairly well preserved, and were evidently 

 not Ancient British. They varied in the form of the skulls; one, more 

 elongated than the others, has been measured and found to have a 

 cephalic index of 72 fl8.6 x 13.4). Some of the teeth were much 

 decayed and hollow. It is probable that these interments were of 



