| Summary : A Neolithic long barrow located on the top of a ridge on Thickthorn Down, circa 250 metres southeast of the southwest terminal of the Dorset Cursus (Linear 41) and less than 150 metres southwest of the longbarrow ST 91 SE 21. Listed by RCHME as Gussage St Michael 12 and by Grinsell as Gussage St Michael II. RCHME described the barrow as a mound aligned northwest-southeast, circa 100 feet long, 60 feet across and 8 feet high. The ditch, which surrounds all but the southeastern end, measured 23 feet across and up to 3 feet deep. The barrow was completely excavated in 1933 by CD Drew and Stuart Piggott, assisted by Alexander Keiller and WEV Young among others. Drew and Piggott had suggested that the mound was preceded by a turf-built mortuary structure. However, re-analysis of the published sections suggests that, like a number of other barrows on the southern English chalklands, the mound was in fact constructed in a series of bays, perhaps defined and divided by rows of hurdles. No human remains were found in a primary position either beneath the mound or within the ditch. The primary ditch fills included sherds of Early Neolithic pottery, 2 carved chalk phalli, and a quantity of animal bone, with particular concentrations occurring in the ditch terminals at the southeast end. This pattern of deposition continued into the late Neolithic, with Peterborough Ware and animal bone again focused on these terminals. 4 secondary crouched inhumations, associated with Beaker pottery, were inserted into the centre of the mound, arranged in a line along the long axis of the barrow. One was also accompanied by a bronze awl. A few Beaker sherds also came from the ditch. 3 pits beneath the mound contained chalk rubble, burnt flints and charcoal. 3 postholes were found at the open end but their date and relationship to the mound are unclear. A radiocarbon date of 3210+/-45 bc (uncalibrated) was obtained from a red deer antler pick found on the old land surface beneath the mound. |
More information : (ST 97191225) Long Barrow (NR). (1)
A long barrow situated on Thickthorn Down on the crest of the ridge between the Gussage and Crichel valleys. Aligned SE to NW, it lies close to the Cursus (SU 01 NW 91) and is clearly associated with it. The mound is nearly 100ft long, 60ft across and 8ft high. It stands within a ditch 23ft across and up to 3ft deep, which is U-shaped in plan and open to the SE.
When the barrow was excavated in 1933 no primary interment was found, but Windmill Hill ware occured at a primary level in the ditch and Peterborough ware was found at a higher level. Three secondary interments, all apparently of females, were discovered. Two were accompanied by bell beakers (Clarke, type E) and one of those with a beaker was also accompanied by the remains of a young child. Finds are in the Dorset County Museum. (2)
A fresh interpretation of the barrow suggests it is a 'bayed' long barrow, divided longitudinally by internal hurdles. Re-examination of the molluscan evidence confirms the 1936 report that the barrow was built in open, dry, grassland. A C-14 date of 3210-45 bc (BM 2355) was obtained from an antler, which is surprisingly early. (3) |