310 



The Opening of a Barrow on Overton Hill. 



This barrow is circular, with an elevation, ; iiow ; of 4 feet 4 it 

 inches above the natural level, but it has been much reduced in Ip 

 height by the plough, &c. It is at present upwards of 90 feet in ij Iv 



It consists almost entirely of heavy clayey earth, apparently jlo 

 derived from the surface-soil around. We commenced on the south ill 

 edge of the barrow with a trench reaching to the chalk substratum, a: 

 and worked towards the centre, thence enlarging the opening east ill 

 and west. Towards the east, and about 18 inches from the present J 

 surface, we found a circular cavity, of about a foot in diameter, fi 

 formed in the soil, and carefully smoothed inside ; in this were t 

 the bones of an adult, completely burnt and mixed with the wood t 

 ashes. They apparently belonged to a person about thirty years 

 of age. There were no beads or other personal relics found with 1 

 the ashes. A long thin line of ashes extended over a distance J 

 of 6 or 8 feet in the soil above this interment, but quite distinct j 

 from it. : 



At a depth of from 4 to 5 feet, traces of the ancient soil were 

 plainly shown by the fibrous remains of the former turf. This was 

 very generally covered with a layer of wood ashes, and on this level, 

 to the north-west of the centre, another interment of burnt bones ■■: 

 was discovered. These were placed in a cist similar to the last, but 

 less carefully formed. They apparently belonged to an adult person 

 of about the same age as in the other instance, but they had been 

 very irregularly burnt — some portions of the skull retaining much 

 animal matter. They were also mixed with a large quantity of . 

 wood ashes. j 



In one spot near this interment as many as twenty or more flint 1 

 flakes were found, and amongst these a very well made flint scraper. 

 This, and one or two other rude implements had apparently been 

 made on the spot. Here, too, Mr. Lukis picked up a specimen of | 

 a saw-edged flint implement. It is rudely formed, but is distinctly i 

 and regularly serrated. Unfortunately it was somewhat damaged 

 by the spade. 1 



1 We believe this to be the first specimen of distinctly serrated flint implement 



diameter. 



