320 Examination of Barrows on 



that no record of the investigation has been published: perhaps 

 such may remain in manuscript among Mr. Cunnington's papers 

 either in the Library at Stourhead, or in the possession of his 

 family. 1 



A small low barrow on Pound Down, within a short distance of 



1 It appears from the remarks of Sir R. C. Hoare (Ancient Wilts, vol. i. p. 

 166, 173,) that "during the early period of Mr. Cunnington's researches, no 

 very regular account was kept of his discoveries," as at first "no idea was en- 

 tertained of prosecuting them to the extent" to which they were ultimately 

 carried, and " not the most distant thought was entertained of laying the result 

 before the public." Mr. Cunnington's claim to he the first accurate inquirer into 

 the sepulchral antiquities of Wiltshire, is repeatedly stated by Sir Richard Hoare, 

 who, referring to his death in 1810, calls him "the Alpha of his publication," — the 

 " Ancient Wiltshire," (vol. i. p. 173.) The first volume of these magnificent 

 folios, commenced in 1810 and published in 1812, is " appropriately dedicated" 

 to Mr. Cunnington, as " a tribute due to justice and friendship." In the dedi- 

 cation of the second volume to Sir Joseph Banks, in 1819-21, SirR. C. H. says Mr. 

 Cunnington "first induced me to explore the ancient relics of the Britons, 

 and to him I chiefly owe the valuable information I have received from a 

 minute inquiry into the local antiquities of our county." In a later work, Sir 

 Richard repeats these acknowledgements, and observes that " it was reserved 

 for Mr. Cunnington of Heytesbury to investigate barrows in a more perfect 

 manner, and to prove that the primary interment was not near the top but al- 

 ways on the floor of the barrow, and generally in a cist cut in the chalk." 

 (Tumuli Wiltunenses 1829, p. 3, 7.) Sir Richard Hoare associated himself with 

 Mr. Cunnington in these undertakings in 1804, when he agreed to bear the ex- 

 pense of further researches in the barrows (" Britton's Autobiography," vol. 

 i. p. 370.); and from this date an exact record of their joint and extensive labours 

 appears to have been kept. The name of Sir Richard Hoare, whose — 



" search 



Has dived the Druid mound, illustrating 

 His country's annals, and the monuments 

 Of darkest ages," — (Days Departed, 7 ' W. L. Bo wles.) 

 merits indeed the place it must ever hold in connection with th e most elaborate 

 investigations of ancient British antiquities yet made; as without his co- 

 operation there is no probability that they could have been prosecuted so exten- 

 sively, or given to the public with such a profusion of costly illustration. The 

 Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A. speaking of the "Ancient Wiltshire," may perhaps 

 somewhat underrate Mr. Cunnington's contributions, to at least, the first volume, 

 when he says, " In this great work Sir Richard Hoare is entitled to stand very 

 much alone as its author ; and it is but in that spirit of modesty, which was a 

 striking part of a character singularly gentle and amiable, that he assigns to 

 any other person any material share in the labour." (Salisbury Yol. Arch. Inst, 

 p. 20.) The only unavoidable regret, in connection with these researches into 

 the barrows, is that anatomical and ethnological science was not brought to 

 bear on the human remains, and especially the crania, which were so extensively 

 exhumed. 



