A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



The barrow also contained a cist in which were three interments on 

 different levels. A bronze dagger 3 in. in length was found with the remains 

 of the burnt burial, which occupied a middle position between the lowest 

 interment, which consisted of almost an entire skeleton, and the uppermost, 

 which was the skeleton of a child. 



In still another part of the barrow, at a depth of about 2 ft. from the 

 surface, was the skeleton of a child, laid on the left side, with the knees 

 drawn up. An ornamented vase or urn, 5 in. in height, lay close by. In 

 addition to the interments described traces of three or four other burials were 

 noticed. It is obvious that the barrow must have been an important burial- 

 place and that both Stone Age and Bronze Age folk buried their dead within it. 



4. A barrow at Deepdale, 17 yds. in diameter and of small elevation, 

 was found to contain a grave in which was a human skeleton, in a crouched 

 posture, accompanied by a well-preserved bronze dagger provided with three 

 rivets by which it had been fastened to a semi-lunar handle. 



5. A barrow, called Mouse Low, situated between Deepdale and the 

 village of Grindon, 14 yds. in diameter, and about 2 ft. high, upon being 

 examined was found to contain the skeleton of a large man in contracted 

 posture. Near the head was a peculiarly elegant and well-finished drinking 

 cup, within which there were two implements cut from the ribs of a large 

 animal, a spear head, and two beautiful barbed arrows of white flint. Out- 

 side the cup were two more arrows of the same kind. 



6. Small barrow, known as Green Low, at Castern. In this was found 

 the skeleton of a child, with a flint arrow-point, and certain objects of 

 later date, including a Roman fibula of bronze. 



7. Musden Low, a barrow situated on Musden Hill, near Calton, 

 originally 27 yds. in diameter, on examination was found to contain a 

 skeleton completely embedded in rats' bones. Close by were found the 

 remains of a burnt interment, the fire employed for which having partially 

 blackened both the skeleton and the rats' bones. Calcined implements of 

 flint, and pieces of urns, ranging apparently from the Celtic to the Romano- 

 British period, were found in the barrow. 



8. A tumulus called Thorncliff, situated on Calton Moor, about a mile 

 from the village of Calton, contained the remains of a large skeleton ' accom- 

 panied by a neat instrument of flint and a bronze dagger, with three rivets 

 of the usual form.' 



9. A second barrow at Musden Hill (see 7) upon being opened was 

 found to contain a human skeleton with the head to the outside of the 

 barrow. Above and around it were fragments of two globular narrow- 

 necked urns, ornamented with a few projections upon the shoulders, which 

 had contained burnt bones. The discoverers were inclined to assign this 

 interment to the Anglo-Saxon period, but it seems just possible that the 

 pottery found was Neolithic. 



10. A barrow on Readon Hill, Ramshorn, was opened and found to 

 contain about the centre two extended skeletons. They were accompanied 

 by an iron spear and a narrow iron knife. These may have been Anglo- 

 Saxon interments. 



1 1 . A barrow at Dale, near Stanton, on being opened was found to contain 

 two skeletons lying on the original surface of the earth. These presented 



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