346 The Opening of a Barroio on Overton Hill. 



This barrow is circularj with an elevation, now, of 4 feet 4 

 inches above the natural level, but it has been much reduced in 

 height by the plough, &c. It is at present upwards of 90 feet in 

 diameter. 



It consists almost entirely of heavy clayey earth, apparently 

 derived from the surface-soil around. We commenced on the south 

 edge of the barrow with a trench reaching to the chalk substratum, 

 and worked towards the centre, thence enlarging the opening east 

 and west. Towards the east, and about 18 inches from the present 

 surface, we found a circular cavity, of about a foot in diameter, 

 formed in the soil, and carefully smoothed inside j in this were 

 the bones of an adult, completely burnt and mixed with the wood 

 ashes. They apparently belonged to a person about thirty years 

 of age. There were no beads or other personal relics found with 

 the ashes. A long thin line of ashes extended over a distance 

 of 6 or 8 feet in the soil above this interment, but quite distinct 

 from it. 



At a depth of from 4 to 5 feet, traces of the ancient soil were 

 plainly shown by the fibrous remains of the former turf. This was 

 very generally covered with a layer of wood ashes, and on this level, 

 to the north-west of the centre, another interment of burnt bones 

 was discovered. These were placed in a cist similar to the last, but 

 less carefully formed. They apparently belonged to an adult person 

 of about the same age as in the other instance, but they had been 

 very irregularly burnt — some portions of the skull retaining much 

 animal matter. They were also mixed with a large quantity of 

 wood ashes. 



In one spot near this interment as many as twenty or more flint 

 flakes were found, and amongst these a very well made flint scraper. 

 This, and one or two other rude implements had apparently been 

 made on the spot. Here, too, Mr. Lukis picked up a specimen of 

 a saw-edged flint implement. It is rudely formed, but is distinctly 

 and regularly serrated. Unfortunately it was somewhat damaged 

 by the spade.^ 



^ We believe this to be the first S2)ecimen of distinctly serrated flint implement 



