Attitudes to Disposal of the Dead - Gazetteer Query Form

Background to the Gazetteer | Table of Contents


Query

Site name Winterslow 21, Easton Down
Site number 476
Burial codes 4005 4009 4021 4023 4025 4028 4030 4032 4041 4047 4051 4053 4065 4072 4075 4082 4085 4092 4098 4104 4108 4111 4121 4122 4124 4128 4143 4151 4152 4153 4159 4161 4173 4181
2500bc-14/1300bc A long low mound oriented EW, c18m x 6m, comprising a thin layer of flint nodules (both mined nearby and surface nodules) about 0.15m thick covering four cremations (2 in urns) arranged in a crescentic EW line and set into the old turf line and underlying chalk.

Pit 1 at the west contained an overhanging rim urn of 'degenerate' type on its side, mouth facing east. It was packed round with ashes and contained the cremated bones of a child c8 accompanied by 4 jet beads, 3 amber beads and one segmented faience bead, and a small bone pin or awl, but little charcoal.

Pit 2 contained well burnt bones of a child c5, five pieces of burnt flint and charcoal.

Pit 3 was not a true cist, but an urn lay in fragments on the ground surface in direct contact with the covering flint layer unaccompanied by charcoal or ash.

Pit 4 contained 3 small pieces of burnt bone, 20 pieces of burnt flint and a handful of charcoal.

Pit 5 was a scooped out hole containing a probably inverted small collared urn with two pieces of charcoal.

Pit 6 was a small scooped out hole containing a crushed pygmy cup and very probably an accessory food vessel, and 2 pieces of burnt bone.

Pit 7 was 0.3m in diameter cut into the chalk but only contained earth and flints.

This cemetery is believed to be a forerunner of types of the Late Bronze Age, but with the older pottery forms (ie before Deverel-Rimbury). The jet beads are characteristic of Early Bronze Age burials, and the faience is of the Wessex burial type.
Remains/Period Y4
County Wiltshire
Region S
National grid square SU
X coordinate 236
Y coordinate 359
Bibliographic source Stone 1933d, Stevens and Stone 1938


Query

© Internet Archaeology/Author(s)
Last updated: Tues Aug 10 2004