Monument record MDO8676 - Urnfield at Lower Close, Christchurch

Barrow with four cremations, one within a tree-trunk coffin. 90 secondary cremations also identified within the Barrow.

(SZ 15159395) Tumulus (OE) (Site of) (1) Site of LBA cemetery found 1937. (2) Bell-Barrow (c) Barrow excavated by C M Piggott in 1937 owing to its imminent destruction by gravel digging. Three pits revealed, two contained primary burials; the other had been refilled soon after digging. One of the primary pits contained an MBA cinerary urn with the cremated bones of two children; the other contained a cremated burial in the carbonised remains of a tree-trunk coffin, with a bronze pin, which possibly had been used to fasten the material in which the bones had been wrapped. Further excavation revealed that the southern half of the barrow had been used as an LBA urnfield with cremations totalling 90, of which only 70 were burials with urns, of barrel, bucket and globular types. A fragment of 'A' beaker was found on the old surface beneath the barrow. Representative collection of finds in RED HOUSE MUSEUM, Christchurch (d) In the following two years (1938-39) the parts of the barrow left unexcavated were destroyed in gravel digging and two MBA food vessels, one containing a child's cremation and in the barrow's centre, and eight LBA bucket urns were found (e). There is no trace of this barrow, the site falling within a disused gravel pit. (3) During gravel digging in 1936, a ridged food vessel was found inverted over a cremation 10 yds NNW of the barrow, at a depth of 4'6". In Red House Museum. (4)

Record last edited

Nov 4 2023 7:55AM