HOLES IN BARROWS. 9 



all, of the barrows, which, as they do not appear to have reference 

 to any particular burial, but rather to the sepulchral mounds them- 

 selves, though perhaps the two can scarcely be separated, it will be 

 better to explain, before giving a description of the manner in 

 which the interments have been made. Though, as has been stated, 

 these features do not connect themselves immediately with the 

 burials, they are nevertheless so commonly found in the barrows, 

 that they must have reference to, and originate in, customs pertain- 

 ing to the rites of sepulture l . 



It is a frequent occurrence to find holes, sunk below the natural 

 surface, within the area of a barrow, and not usually in close 

 proximity to any interment, though in some instances such has been 

 found to be the case. Sometimes as many as four or five have been 

 met with in a single barrow. They are of various sizes, and differ 

 in shape, but they are generally circular, about 1J ft. in diameter, 

 and the same in depth. In the greater number of cases they are 

 filled with the ordinary materials of which the mound itself is com- 

 posed, and contain nothing besides ; but at other times pieces of 

 animal, and much more rarely of human, bones, charcoal, potsherds, 

 and burnt earth and stone are found in them. There is no appear- 

 ance, however, of a fire having ever been kindled within them ; the 

 burnt matter, when they contain any, having evidently been placed 

 there in that condition. Similar holes are found in the Long Bar- 

 rows of the south-west of England, but I have never observed 

 anything like them in the barrows of the North Riding or of 

 Northumberland, common as they are in those on the wolds 2 . 

 It has suggested itself to me that they may have been made as 

 receptacles of food or of some other perishable material, and that 

 they answered the same purpose as the vessels of pottery are sup- 

 posed to have done, which are such frequent accompaniments of a 

 burial. Their not being usually placed in close contact with the 

 body is a fact not perhaps very consistent with this explanation of 

 their purpose, but I am unable to offer any more likely suggestion. 



The occurrence of animal bones is another frequent incident. 

 It is rare indeed to meet with a barrow (where the material is such 



1 I am here reminded of a very apposite remark of M. P. Casalis de Fondouce : 

 ' Je n'ai pas une confiance beaucoup plus grande dans celle des rites funeraires. 

 Les auteurs sont, en general, trop disposes a attribuer a des rites funeraires tout ce 

 qu'ils ne comprennent pas.' Materiaux pour FHistoire de FHomme, Sec. Serie, 

 torn. iv. 1873, p. 79. 



2 Colonel A. Lane 'Fox, F.S.A., found them in a barrow near Brighton, which 

 contained an unburnt body, with a bronze knife. 



