Thomas Bateman 1846. On the 29th of July, 1846, was examined a large tumulus at Castern [Note. Castern Barrow [Map] has no tumulus marked near it on the OS Map?], near Wetton, Staffordshire, distant about a quarter of a mile from that opened near Castern [Map] on the 14th of June, 1845 (on which occasion the one under notice first attracted attention); it was composed principally of a very solid kind of soil, intermixed with clay, amongst which were dispersed many chippings of flint, as well as others of a more determinate form; also a few animal bones, such as fragments of deer's horns, teeth of horses, &c. Towards the centre the stiff earth did not prevail so much, that part of the mound being constructed of loose stones, which were found to continue below the natural surface, to the depth of four feet, making an entire depth of eight feet from the summit of the barrow; at this depth lay the original and most important interment, in a square cist cut out of the primitive rock; the skeleton lay upon its left side, on a thin bed of very tenacious blue clay, with the knees contracted, accompanied by the most elegant and elaborately ornamented drinking-cup, or vase, hitherto discovered and one small instrument of calcined flint; the vase was placed in an upright position about a foot in the rear of the skull, and exhibited signs of having been two thirds full of some substance, or rather liquid, at the time of being buried, an incrustation having formed inside, at about one third of its depth from the mouth. The skeleton was that of an individual rather above the common size, the large bones of the thigh measuring in length nineteen inches and a half, and all the bones having the ridges and other points of muscular attachment remarkably well developed. At a short distance from the centre of the barrow there was every appearance of the remains of a fire which had been made upon a flat stone, surrounded by others, the edges of which were calcined until they were converted into lime. Can this be the place where the drinking-cup was baked? - there were certainly no calcined bones to be seen. Another body was found in a similar position to the foregoing, within six inches of the summit of the tumulus; it owed its preservation mainly to a large flat stone which was placed over it, and which was literally destitute of turf, and exposed to the observation of any person walking over the barrow. Neither urn nor weapon accompanied this interment.

Thomas Bateman 1845. Also on the 14th of June, 1845, was opened, at Castern [Map], about a mile and a half distant from Wetton, a large barrow, measuring about thirty-five yards in diameter, and from four to five feet in height. About four yards from the centre, on the south side of the mound, a small square cist, constructed of thin limestones, was discovered. It contained the skeleton of an infant, which lay amongst the mould in the upper part of the vault; whilst upon the floor of the cist was a deposit of calcined human bones, accompanied by two bone pins, also burnt, one of which is perforated with an eye, and a fine spear-head of flint, with a small arrow-head of the same material. On the natural level, in the centre of the tumulus, lay the skeleton of a female with the knees contracted, completely imbedded in rats' bones, amongst which was found the upper mandible of the beak of a species of hawk. In a deep cist, cut in the rock, beneath the last-named skeleton was another interment evidently the skeleton of a man who had been buried in a sitting posture with whom was deposited part of a flint spear-head. In other parts of this tumulus were found portions of skeletons pertaining to two children and one full-grown person; the various bones of two human feet in a perfect and undisturbed state pieces of stag's horn, horses' teeth, a small whetstone, a large piece of rubbed sandstone, a circular instrument, and various chippings of flint, and the handle of a knife, composed of stag's horn, riveted upon the steel in the modern way; nevertheless it must be of considerable antiquity, being found eighteen inches deep in the barrow, and where the soil was as solid as though it had never been removed. Still its high antiquity is doubtful, though some future discovery may decide the question favorably. In Douglas's 'Nenia Britannica,' plate 19, fig. 4, one very similar is figured, which is of undoubted antiquity, having been found with the interment in one of the barrows upon Chartham Downs, in Kent.

Castern. The large barrow at Castern [Map], near Wetton, first opened on the 14th of June, 1845, was again investigated on the evenings of the 5th, 6th, and 11th of June. On the former occasion, a trench was dug from the south-west side, towards the middle, and on the present a supplementary cutting was made parallel with each side of it. In the western one were no signs of any interment; some human bones, evidently removed from another situation, and some chippings of flint, alone being observed. In the other trench we found the disturbed skeletons of two persons, the skull of one exhibiting the frontal suture, and the usual fragments of flint, pottery, charcoal, and rats' bones. The advancing shades of evening now compelled us to relinquish our labour, and the want of success induced us to fill up the cutting; but on after consideration we determined to make another attempt in the same direction as where we left off, as that part of the mound was stony to the summit, and mingled with charcoal and detached human bones, whilst elsewhere the superstructure was of earth, resting on a foundation of stone. Hence the inference that a later interment had taken place, the stone dug up in making the grave being thrown in again above it. Accordingly, on the 11th June, we resumed our labours, and were soon rewarded by the discovery of a skeleton upon the floor of the barrow, accompanied by several instruments of flint, three of which lay under the head and shoulders. A more uncommon article, a bronze armilla, was found beneath the edge of a stone that lay upon the skeleton, and in contact with the pelvis, into which it was slightly forced by the pressure, which had likewise broken it into two pieces. It is made of a flat ribbon of bronze, half an inch broad, with over-lapping ends to preserve elasticity, ornamented outside with a neatly engraved lozengy pattern, and has a span of 2⅜ inches diameter. The body appeared to have been laid on its back, with the head to the west, but the bones were so imperfect as to render this not quite certain. Wherever we dug in the barrow there were broken human bones and numerous remains of rats.

Thomas Bateman 1845. On the 28th of June, 1845, a small barrow upon the most exposed summit of Gratton Hill [Note. Either Gratton Low Barrow [Map] or Gratton Hill Barrow [Map]], near Wetton, Staffordshire, was the object of attention; the day was wet and cold, and the situation was one which afforded no shelter; yet there was a continued sequence of discoveries which kept up the excitement, and the inclemency of the weather was disregarded. The barrow was about six yards in diameter, and contained several interments, mostly approximating to each other, yet evidently undisturbed, which renders it extremely uncertain which was the primary or principal one; it will therefore be the most intelligible plan to describe them in the same order as they were brought to light in the progress of cutting through the centre of the barrow from the south to north; near the middle, about a foot above the floor of the tumulus, the skeleton of a female was found whose head lay northwards; immediately underneath this lady was a large urn, curiously ornamented, although the material was but coarse clay badly baked; it was inverted over a deposit of burnt human bones, carefully placed upon two thin slabs of limestone; amongst the bones a spear-head of calcined flint was found. About a yard further to the north, another ornamented urn was brought to view; it lay upon its side, and was crushed to pieces by the settling of the mound which inclosed it; around it were scattered numerous calcined human bones, probably once its cherished contents: during the process of disengaging the fragments of this urn from the earth with which they were surrounded, a skull was observed, which on examination was found to belong to a skeleton which lay on its left side, with the legs contracted, and the head nearest to the interior of the barrow. Close beneath the surface, on the eastern side of the mound, another ornamented urn was discovered, with a deposit of burnt bones similar to the others; from its superficial covering, and exposure near the surface, it was, as might be expected, much decayed and much broken, yet the zigzag ornament with which it had been adorned was very visible. With none of the above-named interments were weapons or ornaments discovered, if we except the calcined spear-head before mentioned. One small piece of a stag's hom and the usual rats' bones in abundance were noticed.

Thomas Bateman 1845. On the 28th of June, 1845, a small barrow upon the most exposed summit of Gratton Hill [Note. Either Gratton Low Barrow [Map] or Gratton Hill Barrow [Map]], near Wetton, Staffordshire, was the object of attention; the day was wet and cold, and the situation was one which afforded no shelter; yet there was a continued sequence of discoveries which kept up the excitement, and the inclemency of the weather was disregarded. The barrow was about six yards in diameter, and contained several interments, mostly approximating to each other, yet evidently undisturbed, which renders it extremely uncertain which was the primary or principal one; it will therefore be the most intelligible plan to describe them in the same order as they were brought to light in the progress of cutting through the centre of the barrow from the south to north; near the middle, about a foot above the floor of the tumulus, the skeleton of a female was found whose head lay northwards; immediately underneath this lady was a large urn, curiously ornamented, although the material was but coarse clay badly baked; it was inverted over a deposit of burnt human bones, carefully placed upon two thin slabs of limestone; amongst the bones a spear-head of calcined flint was found. About a yard further to the north, another ornamented urn was brought to view; it lay upon its side, and was crushed to pieces by the settling of the mound which inclosed it; around it were scattered numerous calcined human bones, probably once its cherished contents: during the process of disengaging the fragments of this urn from the earth with which they were surrounded, a skull was observed, which on examination was found to belong to a skeleton which lay on its left side, with the legs contracted, and the head nearest to the interior of the barrow. Close beneath the surface, on the eastern side of the mound, another ornamented urn was discovered, with a deposit of burnt bones similar to the others; from its superficial covering, and exposure near the surface, it was, as might be expected, much decayed and much broken, yet the zigzag ornament with which it had been adorned was very visible. With none of the above-named interments were weapons or ornaments discovered, if we except the calcined spear-head before mentioned. One small piece of a stag's hom and the usual rats' bones in abundance were noticed.