412 Pre-historic Interments near Porton, Wilts. 



In all, five of these ploughed-down barrows were found — two in 

 a line just north of the Horse Barrow, and three in a line still 

 further to the north. 



As to the two nearest the Horse Barrow : — No. 1 was the most 

 pronounced mound of the series, but an extensive trenching failed 

 to disclose any burial, although we found large layers of ashes, and 

 a few animal bones, including the brow antler of a red deer, which 

 had evidently been used as a pick. The area of ashes was much 

 larger than in any other mound, and 1 can only conclude that the 

 body must have been entirely cremated. The layers of ashes did 

 not appear to have been disturbed by earlier explorers. 



No. 2 mound disclosed a burial in a chalk grave, exactly coin- 

 ciding with the first interment opened on the west side of the 

 railway. 



The remains from this barrow, together with others found 

 afterwards, were taken by my son to Edinburgh University to Sir 

 William Turner for the Anatomical Museum. 



No objects of any sort were found with this interment. I did 

 not test outside for any flint rings. 



As to No. 1 in the outer row : — this turned out to be a simple 

 hole in the chalk, filled with cremated remains, and covered with 

 large flints. Small fragments of an urn were found, but it had 

 been so insufficiently burnt that it had entirely perished. 



No. 2 of this row:— the interment was found about 2|ft. under 

 ground, covered with a large quantity of big flints. 



A considerable quantity of burnt bones were found in a heap in 

 the curve of the body of the skeleton, between the elbows and the 

 knees, but there was no evidence of an urn. 



No. 3 of this series turned out by far the most interesting. We 

 found a skeleton just under the surface, only a little below the 

 reach of the ploughshare. 



In removing this skeleton we came across the upper rim of an 

 urn, and in excavating for the rest of this we came upon the burial 

 of a child exactly under the upper one. 



Sir William Turner has both these skeletons : the upper one 

 lie pronounced to be a young woman, and the under one a 



