182 The Grave-mounds of Derbyshire, and their Contents. 



the body is mostly found in a contracted position on its side, 

 (more commonly the left than the right side) j the knees 

 drawn np near to the chest, and the heels to the thighs; the 

 elbows near the knees and the hands m front of the face ; 

 the head inclining somewhat forward. This position which 

 as I have said, is the most usual one, will be best understood 

 by reference to the accompanying engraving, which shows an in- 

 terment found in a barrow on Smerril Moor, opened by my much 



lamented friend the late Mr. Thomas Bateman. In this case, 

 the body had been laid in an irregularly formed cavity on the 

 surface of the natural rock, on a bed of clay, over which, as 

 usual, the mound was formed of loose stones, and mould. 

 Behind the skeleton, as will be seen in the engraving, was 

 found a remarkably fine "drinking cup," along with other 

 articles, about which I shall have occasion to speak. 



Occasionally the body lies at full length, but this is quite 

 the exception to the rule. In one or two instances in Derby- 

 shire, as in Guernsey, the skeleton has been found in a con- 

 tracted upright position in the stone cist of a barrow. This 

 position will be seen in the annexed engraving which accurately 

 represents the section of the barrow when the superincumbent 

 earth and stones had been removed. 



This barrow was situated at Parcelly Hay. The body had 

 been placed in a small oval excavation in the solid rock, about 



