Attitudes to Disposal of the Dead - Gazetteer Query Form

Background to the Gazetteer | Table of Contents

Note that there may be a few slight discrepancies between counts given in the text and the returned results in the gazetteer. This is a result of corrections and amendments (not updates) made to the gazetteer since the research was published in BAR. This does not materially affect the picture presented but does add more detail.

Site name Great Shefford

Site number 966

Burial codes 4005 4009 4021 4023 4025 4028 4030 4035 4036 4041 4048 4051 4065 4075 4084 4093 4098 4104 4111 4122 4128 4129 4143 4152 4153 4159 4181

2500bc-14/1300bc A barrow set on natural chalk, with a probable chalk core covered by flint, and then an earth mound. The mound produced a profusion of ashes, bone, teeth and fragments of pottery, in some places the ash forming distinct layers overlaying the chalk rubble. The animal bone was mostly of deer, wild ass, wolf and fowl. Pottery was found in greatest quantity beneath the flint layer.

There were secondary cremations set into the mound, one in a scooped out pit accompanied by an incense vessel whose inner surface had been partially vitrified by intense heat. Nearby were found a perforated chalk clay ball and a bone needle.

At the centre there appears to have been a flat concreted mass of chalk rubble like a pavement. On the western side were traces of at least three (primary?) interments of burnt bone and ash but no accompanying pottery. By one deposit there was a nest of flint implements: 6 arrow points, and 6 scrapers of varying sizes.

Remains/Period Y4

County Berkshire

Region SE

National grid square SU

X coordinate 380

Y coordinate 750

Bibliographic source Adams 1871

Query

Site name	Great Shefford
Site number	966
Burial codes	4005 4009 4021 4023 4025 4028 4030 4035 4036 4041 4048 4051 4065 4075 4084 4093 4098 4104 4111 4122 4128 4129 4143 4152 4153 4159 4181
2500bc-14/1300bc	A barrow set on natural chalk, with a probable chalk core covered by flint, and then an earth mound. The mound produced a profusion of ashes, bone, teeth and fragments of pottery, in some places the ash forming distinct layers overlaying the chalk rubble. The animal bone was mostly of deer, wild ass, wolf and fowl. Pottery was found in greatest quantity beneath the flint layer. There were secondary cremations set into the mound, one in a scooped out pit accompanied by an incense vessel whose inner surface had been partially vitrified by intense heat. Nearby were found a perforated chalk clay ball and a bone needle. At the centre there appears to have been a flat concreted mass of chalk rubble like a pavement. On the western side were traces of at least three (primary?) interments of burnt bone and ash but no accompanying pottery. By one deposit there was a nest of flint implements: 6 arrow points, and 6 scrapers of varying sizes.
Remains/Period	Y4
County	Berkshire
Region	SE
National grid square	SU
X coordinate	380
Y coordinate	750
Bibliographic source	Adams 1871