330 



Examination of Barrows on 



The other barrows of this group, opened by Sir Richard, yielded 

 interments after cremation. Three of the number, of an elegant 

 bell-form, are curiously united within a common trench, having a 

 sort of hour-glass shape Twin barrows thus united are not un- 

 common, but a three-fold union is very rare ; indeed the only other 

 example, with which we are acquainted, is that at Shepherd's Shore, 

 already referred to. Two of those forming the triplet on Overton 

 Hill are large barrows (Nos. 3 and 4 on Sir R. 0. Hoare's plan,) 

 with an elevation of upwards of ten feet, whilst the intermediate 

 mound is not more than three feet high. In each of the large 

 barrows, was a deposit of burnt bones ; in one, on the surface of the 

 chalk, in the other, in a cist scooped out of it ; and with these, in 

 one (No. 4) a small "lance-head" of bronze and a bit of ivory, sup- 

 posed to have belonged to its sheath or handle; of the wood forming 

 which there were traces. There was also, in this last, a secondary 

 interment of burnt bones in a large rude urn, about two feet from 

 the summit. The small central mound is not numbered as a 

 barrow on the plan, and was not examined by Sir Richard, who 

 perhaps did not regard it as a barrow. 



22. In August 1854, it was found, on opening, to contain a 

 deposit of burnt bones in a shallow cist, and a rude bone pin nearly 

 five inches in length, which had likewise passed through the fire. 

 The bones were of small size, probably those of a female. The 

 three barrows doubtless formed a family sepulchre, that perhaps of 

 two brothers, with the wife of one, or perhaps of both of them, in 

 the centre. 1 



Attention was next directed to the miniature mounds in this 

 group, immediately to the north of the Roman road, and to the 

 south of the barrow numbered 6, on the plan of Sir R. 0. Hoare. 

 It was extremely doubtful, from their form and trifling elevation, 

 whether any of these were sepulchral. In the most southern no- 

 thing whatever was found. The second was not examined. In 

 the third, of rather larger size, at a depth of less than two feet, 

 were a few bits of decayed bronze, of doubtful purpose, and two or 



1 The Britons were poly androus, as we learn from Caesar, (b.g. lib. v. o. 14.) 

 "Uxores habent * * * inter se communes, et maxime fratres cum f'ratribus." 



