506 LONG BARROWS. 



width, and reaching in height to the present surface of the mound. 

 This deposit, on the level of the natural surface, commenced at 

 the extreme east end, and continued for a length of 66 ft. towards 

 the west, and in it were contained, at different depths, the human 

 and some of the animal bones to be more particularly mentioned 

 hereafter. Amongst the chalk-rubble, which had been subjected to 

 the very severe action of fire, was interspersed much charcoal and 

 other burnt matter. Beyond, to north and south of this mesial 

 deposit, the material was sandy soil, whilst beyond that again the 

 mound was composed of chalk-rubble, which constituted the outer 

 part of the barrow. To westwards of the end of the mesial deposit, 

 the whole of the remainder of the barrow consisted of chalk-rubble 

 and sandy soil, but not placed in the regular way observed at the 

 east end, neither was there any deposit of chalk-rubble down the 

 centre at that part of the mound. 



It may perhaps be well, before entering upon a detailed account 

 of the different interments found in the barrow, to direct attention 

 to the way in which the cremation of the bodies seemed to have 

 taken place, as evidenced both by the appearances here presented 

 and by the analogy of some other similarly- shaped mounds. 

 Especial reference may be made to those on Willerby Wold [No. 

 ccxxii], at Westow [No. ccxxiii], Rudstone [No. ccxxiv], Wass [No. 

 ccxxv], and Crosby Garrett [No. ccxxviiij. The bodies then, either 

 entire or in a greater or less degree dismembered and incomplete, 

 appear to have been placed under and partly amongst chalk-rubble 

 and wood, the former so arranged as to enable a draught to carry 

 on the fire from the place of ignition to the other end of that part 

 of the mound sought to be subjected to its action. Further 

 provision for keeping the fire alight was apparently made by 

 excavating hollows at intervals along the line of the deposit, a 

 feature which was also observed in the long barrow at Wass, and in 

 a less degree in that on Crosby Garrett Fell. Over the mesial de- 

 posit of chalk and wood was then placed a less combustible material, 

 sandy soil, the object being presumably to confine the burning 

 to that portion of the barrow in which the bodies were contained. 

 Lastly, when the mound was completed, fire appears to have been 

 applied to the east end of the mesial deposit, and the burning of the 

 bones effected by carrying on the fire throughout its whole length. 



The fire had no doubt originated in a trench which was found 

 at the extreme east end, sunk into the chalk rock to a depth of 

 5^ ft. This trench had a north and south direction, and was 6 ft. 



