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THE DISCOVERY OF A CHAMBEK IN THE LONG 

 BARROW AT LANHILL, NEAR CHIPPENHAM. 



By Maud E. Cunnington. 



In June last (1909) a fine sepulchral chamber was discovered in 

 the stone-built long barrow at Lanhill, near Chippenham, Wilts. 



This once fine barrow was partially excavated by Dr. Thurnam 

 in 1855, when he discovered what he believed to be the remains 

 of two cists, both of which seem to have been previously opened 

 and ruined. 1 Until this summer the barrow seems to have been 

 little, if at all, disturbed since that date, and the description of its 

 appearance then applies to it equally well to-day. "At present 

 the mound," Dr. Thurnam wrote, " has the appearance of several 

 irregular hillocks, in part grown over with thorns and briars, re- 

 sembling somewhat the site of an old quarry." The barrow has, 

 indeed, from time to time been used as a quarry, and it is a matter 

 of difficulty to recognise the remnants of a long barrow in the few 

 more or less detached hillocks that now remain. 



Some stone being needed to repair the floor of the cowyards 

 of Lanhill Farm, the barrow was attacked this summer at a hitherto 

 undisturbed section on the south side of the mound. 



After a considerable quantity of stone had been removed two 

 large upright stones were uncovered which proved to be the portals { 

 of a sepulchral chamber. The workmen moved the easternmost of 

 these two uprights, and were proceeding to clear out the chamber, 

 which had become filled with loose stone as a consequence of the 

 collapse of the roof. They soon recognised that they were 

 digging out human bones with the stone, ' and the work was i 

 stopped, but unfortunately not before three skulls that seem to j 



have been in an excellent state of preservation were smashed, and I 



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1 Wilts Arch. Mag., vol. iii., p. 67. This barrow is sometimes called | 

 " Hubba's Low." 



