Monument record MDO6367 - Bowl barrow, Oakley Down Group, Wimborne St Giles

Bowl barrow forming part of the Oakley Down Group, immediately north of the A354. In 1975 the RCHME reported that the monument was 68 feet in diameter, with a mound surviving to a height of 4 feet, but had been much spread by ploughing. Previous investigation revealed a primary inhumation, with secondary cremation and inhumation burials.

A bowl barrow, part of the group of barrows spread across Oakley Down (SU 01 NW 19). RCHME described it as being "much spread by ploughing" but visible as a mound 68 feet in diameter and 4 feet high. It is cut on its southeast side by the A354. It was excavated early in the 19th century by Cunnington and Hoare (their barrow 2). Four feet below the surface they found the skeleton of a very young person aligned north-south. At five feet down they found a cremation deposit accompanied by a bone pin and some bone beads (Devizes Museum lists a bone pin and "fragments of bone" <4>). At a depth of 9 feet was another inhumation, again aligned north-south. Both RCHME and Grinsell assume this to be the primary interment. The primary inhumation was of an adult at a depth of about 9 feet, and oriented north-south. The first secondary interment was a cremation burial, at a depth of about 5 feet and and accompanied by a bone pin and lozenge-shaped bone beads. A subsequent inhumation at a depth of about 4 feet was of a child, and was also oriented north-south.

Record last edited

Mar 7 2024 7:15PM