32 BARROW-DIGGING AT MARTINSTOWN. 



example is 37, about n inches high, found in a tumulus at 

 Bincombe Hewish in 1850. 



Close to the urn in Barrow 3 a piece of decomposed granite 

 was found at a depth of 1*5 foot in mould. 



Primary Interments by Inhumation. 



Grave /. On the eastern line, or boundary, of the cutting, 

 the upper edge of Grave I., at the southern end, was found at a 

 distance of 7^ feet from the S.S.E. corner of the cutting, and the 

 edge at the northern end at a distance of 14^ feet from the 

 same point. In removing the filling of this grave it was found 

 that, owing to the existence of two distinct ledges, or steps, of 

 undisturbed chalk, the grave became more contracted as the 

 re-excavation proceeded. The grave, that is from the lower 

 ledge downwards, was found to be more or less elliptical ; length, 

 5 -4 feet ; greatest width, 37 feet. The bottom was reached at a 

 depth of 5 feet from the surface of the barrow and 2-3 feet below 

 the level of the surface of the solid chalk. The sides of the 

 grave were very smooth on the south, south-east, south-west, 

 and north-east, and fairly even all the way round. The filling 

 consisted of chalk rubble mixed with nodular flints, but not in 

 such large quantities as in Barrow 2, and not sufficient to justify 

 the name of "cairn" being introduced. Interspersed amongst 

 the filling a quantity of bones of young children were turned up, 

 and also fragments of decomposed or burnt wood. 



The interment proved to be another contracted one, lying on 

 its right side a young male ; length of left femur, 1-52 foot; of 

 tibiae about 1*3 foot; giving an estimated stature of 5 feet 

 8 inches. 



The feet were to the N.N.W. ; head to S.S.E., facing N.N.E. ; 

 skull much fractured. Length from top of head to toes, 4^2 feet ; 

 width from right knee to lumbar vertebrae, 2*2 feet. 



The left humerus was resting across the top of the thorax, the 

 hand nearly reaching right femur. The hand of right arm was 



