186 Account of a Barrow on Roundway Down. 
rude British pottery, and a flint flake. After the hole had been dug 
to the depth of five feet, traces of vegetable mould and ashes ceased, 
and the chalk was in such a pure condition, as at first to lead to the 
supposition that the bottom of the barrow had been reached. A 
few inches further, however, at about five and a half feet, a skeleton 
was found in a flexed position, with its head towards the north, and 
lying on its left side. The left arm was bent up, so that the hand 
was close to the face, the other arm and hand were placed across the 
body, and the knees bent upwards. The skeleton was deposited in 
an oblong oval cist of about five feet long, and two and a half feet 
wide, very smoothly hollowed out of the chalk. The depth of the 
barrow was somewhat remarkable; from the surface of the turf to the 
bottom of the cist being rather more than six feet. At the distance of 
a few inches from the skull was a small flint arrow-head. An urn 
six inches in height was standing upright at the feet. This, although 
highly ornamented, must have been fashioned by hand previous to 
the introduction of the lathe. It contained nothing but loose chalk. 
Near the left hand, with the point towards the feet, lay a plain 
bronze dagger, ten inches long, without any ornament except that 
the surface is neatly bevelled off towards the edge. It is somewhat 
curious that the portion by which it was attached to the handle 
has no rivet holes. When first found it was covered with a thin 
layer of a black pulverulent substance; and there was a similar layer 
underneath it, doubtless the remains of the sheath. A small 
quantity of the same substance, extending for a short distance 
beyond it, seemed to represent the handle. In front of the breast, 
and between the bones of the left fore arm, lay an oblong piece of 
chlorite slate, an inch and a quarter wide, and four inches in length, 
nicely smoothed, and pierced with two holes at each end, the holes 
being neatly countersunk on both sides. Adhering to it was a 
small bronze pin much corroded. It was doubtless used for a 
brooch, or ornament for the breast. Similar plates have been found 
in other parts of Wiltshire. The late Mr. Fenton found one in a 
tumulus on Mere down which had two holes only. It is figured 
in “Hoare’s Ancient Wiltshire,” pl. ii, vol. I. Another, but 
much broader specimen was found by the late Mr. Cunnington at 
