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Query

Site name The Giant's Caves, Luckington 1, Wil 2
Site number 89
Burial codes 5005 5009 5021 5023 5025 5027 5030 5032 5043 5047 5051 5052 5053 5065 5075 5085 5093 5098 5103 5106 5107 5108 5109 5110 5111 5125 5129 5143 5152 5155 5181
3500bc - 2500bc A long chambered cairn with lateral chambers and a blind entrance, oriented ESE, and built of the local Oolitic limestone with a revetment wall. Chamber A contained remains of at least 8 individuals (2 females, 3 males, 2 children c3-4, 1 child c6), and some animal bones. Fragments of burnt human skeletal material were also found. Two female vertebrae were pushed into the interstices of the western wall of the passage, and a third lay on a ledge beneath a lintel. Some flint flakes were also found.

Chamber B contained a narrow entrance from its passage to the inner area, comparable with a port hole entrance in its restrictive nature. Human skeletal material of 1 female, 3 males and 1 child were in the chamber, and in the passage were remains of adult males and females and of a child c12-14.

Chamber C contained some human skeletal material of a female, and animal bones and bone fragments were beneath each orthostat. There was evidence of burning on the ground surface of the entrance passage, with some burnt animal bone, and some unburnt human skeletal material of a young (?) person.

Chamber D had no entrance passage. The unburnt human skeletal material represented 1 male c40, 3 females (1 c25, 1 c30) and at least 3 children c4-5.

Three closely set hearths were found on the longitudinal axis of the monument, the innermost close to the blind entrance. The forecourt was blocked and the material contained few finds - some human skeletal material (at least 1 male, 1 child and an infant), animal bone fragments (deer and cattle), and six flint flakes. Neolithic potsherds were found in chambers B (1 sherd) and C (3). They came from the same pot.
Remains/Period Y5
County Wiltshire
Region S
National grid square ST
X coordinate 820
Y coordinate 830
Bibliographic source Passmore 1933, Corcoran 1970


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Last updated: Tues Aug 10 2004