Horse Teeth
Horse Teeth is in Animal Artefacts.
Section I Tumuli 1843. The first tumulus opened this season was situate upon the Meadow-place Farm, near Yolgrave, and is generally known as Bee Lowe [Map]; it was decided upon to open it on the 16th of June, when it was found to be impossible to excavate it in a proper manner, owing to the trees growing upon the sides; therefore the only method of examining it was by sinking a hole down the centre of the mound, which consisted of loose earth and stones, amongst which a profusion of rats' bones was met with. In the course of this excavation the broken fragments of a human skeleton were turned up, which made it evident that one interment at least had been disturbed at some former period. Amongst these bones were found a small arrow-head of flint, elegantly formed, two rude instruments of the same material, and about half a dozen horse's teeth. On reaching the native soil, which was about four feet from the top of the barrow, the primary deposit was found, consisting of burnt bones, amongst which was part of a bone pin, also calcined; and near to the same place lay some fragments of a well-baked clay urn, very tastefully ornamented with a chevron pattern, and which had been of the form of vessel designated "drinking cups" by Sir Richard Hoare, by which name they will be distinguished in the subsequent parts of this work, as a simple way of expressing their difference from the sepulchral urns and incense cups, although it is by no means certain that they were made use of for the purpose implied by the words "drinking cup."
Section I Tumuli 1843. June 17, 1843, was opened a barrow, called Lean Lowe [Map], situated on the summit of a hill near Hartington [Map]. The south side being most perfect it was deemed most prudent to commence the cutting on that side. Having penetrated to within about two feet from the middle of the mound, an interment was met with, which was probably not so early as the date of the original construction of the tumulus, as, instead of being placed upon the floor of the pile, as usual, it had been buried without care upon a higher level. The head lay between two large stones on the south-west side of the circle, and appeared to have been slightly protected by another stone lying across them. The legs lay in the direction of the interior of the barrow. This interment was devoid of any interest arising from the deposit of weapons or other articles, as nothing of the kind was discovered, more than two horse's teeth, and rats' bones in quantities. Owing to an erection of turf and stones, pertaining to the Ordnance Survey, which surmounted the top of the mound, it was found impracticable to explore the middle of it, which would probably have afforded far more interesting results. (See forward for further discoveries in this tumulus.)
Section I Tumuli 1844. On the 31st of July, 1844, a small barrow [Map] on the One-ash Farm was opened; it was very low, being in no place more than a foot above the surrounding ground; owing to this circumstance the bones had been much disturbed and broken by the passing of the ploughshare over the mound. Near the centre of the barrow were the remains of a human skeleton, which had been accompanied by an ornamented drinking-cup, now broken to fragments; about the same place were perceived a great number of rats' bones, a few horse's teeth, a part of a boar's tusk, and a piece of rubbed sandstone, which had been burnt until it had become quite red, together with a few bits of flint. In other parts of the tumulus human bones were discovered, which would indicate this barrow to have been the resting-place of about six ancient Britons.
Since the above account was written it has been ascertained that this tumulus was opened in 1818, by Mr. Samuel Mitchell, who discovered part of a neatly-ornamented urn, about six inches in diameter, which had contained calcined bones; also some animal bones and an entire human skull.
Section I Tumuli 1844. In the afternoon of the same day was opened another barrow, situated upon Alsop Moor, in a field called Painstor [Map]; it is a long and irregularly-formed mound, in the centre of which a female skeleton in a very decayed state was found, uninclosed in any cist, and unaccompanied by any urn or ornaments. Incidentally were found in the interior of this tumulus several horse's teeth and two rude instruments of flint.