Books, Prehistory, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries

The Rev. samuel Lysons, F.S.A., gave an account of the opening of a tumulus [Windmill Tump aka Rodmarton Long Barrow [Map]] on his property at Rodmarton, in Gloucestershire, of which the following are the particulars. The tumulus was of the kind known as long barrows; its extreme length was 176 feet; greatest width 71 feet; height about 10 feet. (See figs. 1, 2.) It lay nearly due east and west.

Its popular name, "Windmill Tump," had probably diverted the attention of previous antiquaries, such as the Rev. S. Lysons and D. Lysons, Esq., the uncles of the present owner.

The surface-earth having been removed at the east end, the mound appeared to be composed of rubble stone of the country, not thrown together at hap-hazard, but as though dry walls had been erected ay the tumulus, so as to support the rubble stones, and prevent them falling. A few feet below the surface the workmen discovered two large unhewn stones, placed upright in the ground, opposite to each other; each of them measured 8 feet 6 inches in height (Fig. 3.) Against these was leaning a third stone, of large size, which was found to be supported on each side by a low dry wall, and could not therefore have slipped off from the other stones, as might otherwise have been surmised. The position of this stone is exactly similar to one in a cromlech in the county Kilkenny, Ireland, published in the Archæologia, vol. xvi. pl. xviii, and also to one at Molfra [Map] in Cornwall, of which a model is to be seen in the British Museum. Another dry wall filled in the space between the two upright stones.

Beneath these were discovered a quantity of animals’ bones, including the teeth of horses, boars’ tusks, and jaws of calves. No human bones appeared in this part of the tumulus, but a cer- tain quantity of powdered charcoal.

The next investigation was made at the northern shoulder of the mound, where was discovered a chamber with a paved floor; the sides were formed by seven large upright stones, and the top by an immense ingle stone, measuring nearly nine feet by eight, about eighteen inches thick, and weighing probably eight or nine tons. (Fig. 4.)

This chamber was approached by a very narrow passage inclosed by low dry walls on each side. The entrance was closed nearly up to the roof by a barrier formed of two stones placed side by side upright in the ground, and hollowed out on their two inner and adjoining edges so as to leave a kind of port- hole of an oval shape (fig. 6), similar to that in the tumulus at Avening (Archæologia, vol. xvi. p. 362, pl. lvii.). This openin was itself protected and closed up by another upright stone placed in front of it, which had to be removed before the chamber could be entered.

Indications were found of former attempts to examine the mound, such as depressions, especially in the centre. The time at which these attempts had been made seemed to be due to the Romans, as there were found an iron ferrule of a spear, a horse-shoe nail, and two small coins, one of them struck by Claudius Gothicus.

The skulls found in the chamber have been examined by John Thurnam, Esq., M.D., F.S.A., who has pronounced them to be ancient British of a very lengthened form. Several of them appeared to have received fractures during life of a kind which must at once have proved fatal.

The author further proceeded to illustrate these discoveries, and the peculiarities to be noticed in them from various passages in Scripture, and in classical authors ; the whole of which will appear In a forthcoming work.

The curious long barrows which have so long perplexed Archæologists have formed the subjects of several communications to the Society. Those in Wiltshire are noticed by Mr. Cunnington in the Archaologia, vol. xv. p. 346: that at Avening in Gloucestershire, in Archæologia, vol. xv. p. 362; that at Stoney Littleton in the parish of Wellow, Somersetshire, by Sir R. C. Hoare, Archzologia, vol. xix. p. 43; and that at West Kennet in Wiltshire by Dr. Thurnam, in Archaologia, vol. xxxviii. p. 405. The long barrow at Uley in Gloucestershire has been described by Dr. A in the Archwological Journal, vol. xi. p. 315; that at Littleton Drew, Wiltshire, in the Wilts Archeological Magazine, vol. iii. p. 164, also by Dr. Thurnam (compare Crania Britannica, plates 5, 24, 50, and 59); and the analogous struc- tures in Guernsey have been noticed by F. C. Lukis, oy in the Archaeological Toni, vol. i. p. 142, 222; and in the Journal of the British Archazological Association, vol. i. p. 23, and vol. iv. p- 330.

Thanks were returned for these Communications.