More information : 'A': ST 83547323; 'B': ST 83537321; 'C': ST 83527322
Tumuli (NR). (1)
Some time before 1945 A S Mellor visited and identified as
Bronze Age a group of 3 circular mounds in Colerne Park. He also
tried, unsuccessfully, to locate a "Roman camp" mentioned here
by Aubrey in the 17th century.
In about 1945 W J Dowding (of Slaughterford Paper Mills)
discovered Romano British sherds on the surface of the largest
mound, known locally as "The Dane's Tump". He informed Mellor
who revisited the site and found further Romano British sherds,
was well as 2 bronze coins and bronze objects. Nothing was
discovered on the other two mounds, but he did notice "many
irregularities in the surface of the ground near the site".
In 1953 Mellor excavated the smallest mound but found nothing
apart from 2 pieces of a red pot, charcoal and blackened earth.
The ditch of the largest mound was trenched and a Romano British
"heap" (64 ft by 20 ft) discovered. It contained quantities of
Romano British pottery (including Terra Sigillata), glass,
iron and bronze objects, 33 coins (of late 1st to early 5th
century date) and building material.
The third mound was also trenched down to the original ground
level and as far as the centre. No dateable material was found. (2)
(A) ST 83547325: Bowl barrow, 24 paces in diameter, 9 ft high
and surrounded by a large deep ditch. The mound is flat topped.
(B) ST 83537321: Bowl barrow, 12 paces in diameter and 3 ft
high.
(C) ST 83517321: Bowl barrow, 8 paces in diameter and 2 1/2 ft
high. (3)
Mounds surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (4)
Of the three mounds, that at 'A' ST 83547323 is an apparently
undisturbed ditched bowl barrow, as described, (3) and in good
condition, its tree-covered surface is devoid of Romano British
pottery. Local enquiry failed to verify the name 'Danes Tump'.
The mound at 'B' ST 83537321 is 0.8m high, ditchless, and shows
signs of disturbance. Possibly a small bowl barrow.
At 'C' ST 83527322 is an irregularly-shaped ditchless mound
0.9m high, the slopes of which spill into the ditch of the
large bowl barrow; it has been extensively dug-over. A very
doubtful barrow.
An intensive search of the fresh ploughland surrounding these
features failed to locate evidence of Roman building and/or
domestic refuse. There seems to be a distinct possibility that
these are not the mounds referred to by Mellor (2), and an
association of this site with the Roman building (ST 87 SW 15) is
unrealistic in view of the latters situation and distance away.
1:2500 survey transferred to PFD. (5)
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