at West Rennet, Wiltshire. 



133 



the three large cap-stones. Omitting the details of the excavation, 

 it may suffice to state that the chamber was entered from the west 

 end, and was found to be formed of six upright sarsen stones, 

 covered by three very large blocks of the same, and having a 

 gallery entering it from the east, similarly constructed. (Figs. 4, 5, 6.) 

 The chamber was about eight feet in length, by nine in breadth, 

 and nearly eight feet in clear height. On clearing out the earth 

 and chalk-rubble with which it was filled, the chamber was found 

 to contain six skeletons, all, so far as could be made out, in the 

 crouched or sitting posture, — five being probably of males from 17 

 to 50 years of age, and the sixth that of an infant. With one 

 exception, they were of less than middle stature. Two of the 

 skulls were remarkable for distinct traces of fractures, unequivo- 

 cally inflicted before burial and probably before death. Bones of 

 various animals used for food were found, including those of the 

 sheep or goat, ox of a large size, roebuck, boars and other swine. 

 There were very numerous flakes and knives of flint, some of which 

 were circular and elaborately chipped at the edges : one only had 



Fig. 7. Fig. 8. 



Figs. 7, 8. Flint Implements from the Chambered Barrow, West Kennet, 

 Two thirds size. 



been ground (fig. 7), and may have been used in flaying~animals. 

 There were two or three large mallets or mullers of flint and 

 sarsen stone, part of a rude bone pin, and a single hand-made bead of 

 Kimmeridge shale. The fragments of coarse but ornamented pottery 

 were remarkable for their number and variety (figs. 9, 10) ; and in 

 three of the four angles of the chamber tfiere was a pile of such, 

 evidently deposited in a fragmentary state, there being scarcely 



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