S90 



An Account of the opening of Two Barrows situated in the 

 parish of Ford, and County of Northiunherland, on June 

 ^'^7id and July 1st, 1858. By the Rev. William Green- 

 well. 



The two barrows are placed on the south slope of the 

 range of low sandstone hills which skirt the valley of the 

 Till on the south, and are situated about one mile south-east 

 from the village of Ford. The immediate neighbourhood is 

 filled with the works of the natives of pre-historic times. 

 Close by is the fortified place at the Rowtin Lynn, with the 

 rock inscribed Avith those mysterious circles, which though 

 now found spread over a wide area in Britain and Ireland, 

 have as yet baffled all interpretation of their meaning ; nearer 

 still to the barrows, are two rocks with similar markings to 

 those on the Rowtin Lynn rock ; whilst from time to time 

 the plough, or the hand of the waller, has brought to light 

 urns, bones, and flints, the relics of the sepultures of a 

 bygone race. The two barrows which were opened, are not 

 the only two which remain, uninjured by cultivation, on the 

 slope and summit of the hills in this locality ; they were 

 selected from among those that still exist, on account of 

 their larger size, and from their presenting no indication 

 of ever having been disturbed by the hand of man. They 

 both were formed, as regards the upper part of the barrow, 

 of the rough sandstone of the district, Avhich is found in 

 convenient proximity, covering the surface of the ground. 

 When first raised the barrow was probably a cairn of stones, 

 for the mixture of earth found among the stones is apparently 

 due to the decay of the vegetable growth of centuries, rather 

 than to any original deposit of earth. The lower part of the 

 barrows, in which alone were found any remains of urns or 

 bones, consisted of earth, bearing, from its blackened appear- 

 ance, evident marks of fire. 



The largest and most prominent barrow was sixteen feet 

 in diameter, and rose about three feet above the ordinary 

 level of the ground. It was enclosed by a circle of stones, 

 set on edge and close to each other ; the inner diameter of 

 this circle measured twelve feet ; the space of four feet, which 

 remains to make up the outer diameter, was made up of the 

 stones of the circle, and of smaller stones and earth heaped 

 upon and around them. The principal interment was in the 

 centre of the barrow, and on a level with the surface of the 



