Monument record MDO6359 - Bowl barrow, one of the Oakley Down Group, Wimborne St Giles

Bowl barrow, forming part of the Oakley Down Group. In 1975 the RCHME reported that the monument was 73 feet in diameter ,with a mound surviving to a height of 6 feet. A primary crouched interment was previously found at a depth of 11 feet, accompanied by a number of objects: two secondary inhumations and a cremation burial were also found near the top of the barrow.

A bowl barrow, part of the Oakley Down barrow group (SU 01 NW 19). It was described by RCHME as a mound 73 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. The barrow was excavated in the early 19th century by Cunnington and Hoare (their barrow 9). It is worth noting that Hoare describes the monument as a bell barrow. They found a primary crouched inhumation accompanied by a bronze dagger (with part of a wooden scabbard remaining), a bronze awl, a V-perforated shale button, a shale pulley ring, another shale object, four flint barbed and tanged arrowheads, plus "some pieces of flint, chipped and prepared for similar weapons". A pottery vessel, described as "probably" a Drinking Cup (ie Beaker) was at the feet of the skeleton. Many of these items (though not the pottery vessel) are in Devizes Museum. The primary inhumation appears to have been buried beneath a cairn of flints, among which were found large pieces of antler and part of a polished stone axehead. Within the mound but above the flint cairn were found two secondary inhumations, apparently placed one above the other. The uppermost was associated with another "Drinking Cup" (again, presumably a Beaker) plus sherds of "another cup of still ruder texture and workmanship". By its feet was a large deposit of cremated human bones. The excavation was also notable for a "tremendous storm of thunder and lightning", during which all present were forced to hide within the barrow until the flint cairn began to collapse on them. The incident was recalled in a truly dreadful poem by the Rev. W Bowles, one of those present, which Hoare chose to publish alongside his account of the excavation.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 144 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Annable, F K and Simpson, D D A, 1964, A guide catalogue of the Neolithic and Bronze Age collections in Devizes museum, 39, 90, Nos. 77-85 (Unpublished document). SDO18620.

<3> Colt Hoare, Sir Richard, 1975, The ancient history of Wiltshire, 238-240 (Monograph). SDO18077.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 103 (Monograph). SDO129.

‘(110) Bowl (01841718), (Hoare No. 9), in which was found, at a depth of 11 ft., a primary crouched interment accompanied by a bronze riveted dagger, a bronze awl, a V-perforated shale button, a shale pulley ring, three barb-and-tang arrowheads and a flint fabricator. Also found, but not preserved, were a 'drinking cup', perhaps another shale button, a fourth arrowhead and a number of worked flints (Devizes Mus. Cat., 1964, Nos. 77–85). A fragment of stone axe and pieces of antler were found in the primary cairn. Near the top of the barrow were two secondary inhumations, the uppermost with two 'drinking cups' at its head and a cremation at its feet. Diam. 73 ft., ht. 6 ft.’

<5> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke (Monograph). SWX800.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1312430 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 7 2024 7:14PM