More information : ST 5375 5417 (2) - T.65 (3). - a Bronze Age barrow
100 ft. across and 3' 9" high, at Pool Farm, West Harptree, was
excavated Sept./Oct. 1930. A stone cist, 5' 6" x 4' 6" and 2' 6"
high with capstone and paved floor, situated 2ft. east of the
barrow centre, contained a cremation (now in Taunton Museum).
A further cutting, 40 ft. from the centre, showed the barrow
to be ditchless, whilst two flint flakes, a flint scraper, and
fragments of late glazed ware were found. The whole barrow was
removed in March 1931, the material used for road widening, and
the cist left in situ [see AO/LP/64/21 (1)]
On the 9th of May, 1956, the S.W. slab of the cist, now in the
City Museum, Bristol, was found to bear six carvings of feet in
sunk relief, and nine or ten cup marks. [See AO/LP/64/19 & 20
(2)]. Other foot-carvings from prehistoric sepulchral contexts
are rare, the other known examples in this country being at
Calderstones, near Liverpool (on stones of a chambered tomb),
and Harbottle Peels near Alwinton, Northumberland (NT 945050 -
on stone cist). (1-3)
Only the cist, at ST 53745415, remains, nothing being visible
of the barrow (Grinsells West Harptree 8). The S.W. slab of the
cist has been replaced by a cast copy, the original being in
the City Museum, Bristol. See AO 66/101/7.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
A seventh foot-carving has been discovered on the cist slab. (5-6)
Additional reference-as 4a. (7)
Round barrow cist excavated. (8)
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