| Summary : A Neolithic long barrow, designated as Tilshead 5 by Grinsell (1957). The barrow survives as a slightly trapezoidal mound oriented east-north-east, with a maximum height of 1.25 metres high. It is 53 metres long and 13 metres wide at the east end. A shallow `tump' east of centre, some 20 metres long, may indicate the presence of an underlying structure. The flanking ditches are shallow, and separated from the mound by a berm 1.5 metres wide. The ditch to the south is almost ploughed out, but the northern one is 43 metres long, 8 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep. Excavations by Cunnington and Thurham during the 19th century located two crouched primary inhumations and a secondary Saxon inhumation accompanied by grave goods including a shield. |
More information : (SU 02124752) Tumulus (NR). (1)
(SU 02104751) Tilshead 5, a long barrow (2), situated west of Tilshead Lodge and north of the Tilshead - Chitterne road (3). It is orientated E/W and measures 173 ft long x 60 ft wide x 5 ft high with visible side ditches. (2) It was excavated by Hoare and Cunnington (4) who found a skeleton lying west to east, without grave-goods, just under the turf near the east end, and the 'usual stratum of black earth on the floor of the barrow'. A Saxon (2) date for this burial is inferred by reason of J Thurnam's (3) find when he re-opened the barrow in 1865. Just below the surface in the centre of the barrow was an extended skeleton, with head to the west, with the iron handle, studs and boss of a shield, and the remains of a wooden bucket bound with thin straps of bronze.
Thurnam also found the primary burial of two flexed skeletons (one
with a cleft skull) on the floor near the east end. Close by were the
bones of two specimens of Bos longifrons, showing evidence of having
been slaughtered. (2-4)
Long Barrow (NR). (5)
SU 02114751 The barrow in 58m long E-W by 16m, and averages 0.8m high. Its side ditches are no longer discernible. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on PFD. (6)
Recorded as Tilshead 5 in an earlier source than authority 2. (7)
SU 021475 Tilshead Lodge (Kinnes no. SU 70). Mound comprising of a core of black earth capped by chalk rubble with a secondary inhumation. Mortuary area contained two crouched inhumations. Pair of flanking ditches (Kinnes type A) (8)
Set on the false crest above the Till valley and 1km W of Tilshead, the slightly trapezoidal mound oriented ENE, survives to 1.25m high. It is 53m long and 13m wide at the E end. A shallow `tump' E of centre, some 20m long, may indicate the presence of an underlying structure. The flanking ditches are shallow, and separated from the mound by a berm 1.5m wide. The ditch to the S ids almost ploughed out, but the N example measures 43m long, 8m wide and is 0.3m deep.
Surveyed at 1:500 as part of the RCHME:SPTA Project (see project archive for further details). (9) |