Monument record MDO3037 - Bell Barrow, one of the Came Down Group, Winterborne Came

Mutilated bell barrow. Visible on aerial photographs {1} as a cropmark ring ditch 48m in diameter with internal mound, ditch and central pit. The site was digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping project.

Bell barrow <3>, bowl barrow <1>, 100 feet in diameter by 2 feet high, flattened byu ploughing. It appears on air photographs to be surrounded by a ditch about 140 feet in diamter. Probably the destroyed barrow "of immense size" recorded by Warne, which containedtwo inhumations accompanied by parts of antlers, and two grooved bronze daggers. <1> <3> A presumed bell barrow but now extensively plough-spread. Diameter 30.0m, height 0.5m. There is no surface evidence of the surrounding ditch which is well defined as a soil mark on OS air photograph. Under root crop at time of field visit. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <4> This may be the massive barrow destroyed in the nineteenth century; said to have contained nearly 2000 cartloads of soil. Two primary inhumations accompanied by parts of antlers, some 10ft. From the surface. 3ft. To 4ft. Below were two grooved bronze daggers, the longer probably with 6 rivets, the shorter apperently tanged. All apparently SE of centre. Visible on aerial photographs <7> as a cropmark ring ditch 48m in diameter with internal mound, ditch and central pit. The site was digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping project.

Record last edited

Jun 29 2023 3:49PM