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Site name Wayland's Smithy, Brk 1
Site number 136
Burial codes 5005 5009 5022 5024 5025 5027 5030 5033 5042 5044 5047 5052 5053 5065 5075 5093 5097 5103 5105 5106 5107 5108 5110 5111 5123 5128 5142 5152 5155 5159 5167 5181 5200 2001 2005 2022 2024 2025 2027 2030 2033 2042 2046 2051 2065 2075 2091 2098 2104 2111 2128 2143 2152 2153 2181
3500bc - 2500bc Long barrow oriented NS. The 1920-21 excavation was partial and discovered some human skeletal material disturbed by digging. It was suggested that these were early interments moved to make way for later ones. 8 skeletons were found, 7 adults, 1 child. There were no thigh bones. The barrow contained primary Neolithic pottery. It was a low sarsen-kerbed trapezoidal barrow, with flanking ditches. At the south end was a facade of larger sarsen stones, from which ran back a short passage leading to a transepted chamber, roofed with substantial capstones. There was some evidence of chalk rubble blocking as at West Kennet (Site 72).

RC: from a carbonised branch on the old ground surface. I-2328 2820 +/- 130

Atkinson found 2 successive barrows in 1962-63. In the earlier small oval barrow which was defined by flanking ditches, an oval kerb and a low chalk and sarsen barrow, the south half covered a D-shaped pavement of tabular sarsens 4.4m x 1.5m with D-shaped post holes at the north and south. This is a possible mortuary house, pitched and ridged like that at Fussell's Lodge (Site 92), or an embanked, box-like structure perhaps with a flat wooden roof. There were the remains of at least 14 individuals on the paving, and one young adult laid separately crouched on its left side at the north end. There were 10 adult males in the age range c20-40, 3 females c20-30 and a child c10. The central part of the pavement was occupied by a dense and confused mass of bones. The condition of skeletons varied between complete articulation and disintegration. Their state suggested previous inhumation elsewhere, disinterment and reburial in the barrow in some cases. Some may have been exposed previously on platform burials. Primary Neolithic pottery, and 3 well made flint arrow heads with broken points were laid in contact with a pelvis.

RC: from burning post mound and pre chambered tomb I-1468 2820 +/- 130
8/700bc-100bc There was a crouched burial 'near the western skirt of the barrow', near the surface, without grave goods and possibly of the Iron Age.
Remains/Period Y5 Y2
County Oxfordshire
Region SE
National grid square SU
X coordinate 281
Y coordinate 854
Bibliographic source Peers and Smith 1921, Atkinson 1965, Whittle 1991


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Last updated: Tues Aug 10 2004