I will now proceed to describe the results of the examination of a chambered tumulus at West Kennet, made in the autumn of last year under the auspices of the Wiltshire Archæological and Natural History Society. I hope on some future occasion to report the result of similar researches in other long barrows in this part of Wiltshire; and then to make some general observations in regard to their age and period, and to the people by whom they were probably erected.
Fig. 2. The Long Barrow at West Kennet.
(From a rude sketch by John Aubrey, circa 1660).
The long barrow near West Kennet is situated on the brow of a hill which commands a view of Avebury to the north, and St. Anne's Hill and Wansdyke to the south, being about two miles distant from each. It has often been described: John Aubrey, in his "Monumenta Britannica,"[1] written between 1663 and 1671, gives a rude sketch of it, accompanied by a brief and inaccurate description: "On the brow of the hill, south from West Kynnet, is this monument, but without any name: It is about the length of the former, (four perches long—sic), but at the end only rude grey-wether stones tumbled together. The barrow is about half a yard high." So far as it can be relied upon, Aubrey's sketch is interesting, as it shows that in his time the whole of the barrow was set round at its base with stones, which formed a complete peristalith.
Dr. Stukeley's description was written about 1725, in which year, probably, his sketch of the barrow, which he absurdly designates that of an Arch-Druid, was made.[2] Stukeley gives it the name of South Long Barrow, from its situation in respect to Silbury Hill, and the circles of Avebury. He says: "It stands east and west, pointing to the dragon's head on Overton-hill. A very operose congeries of huge stones upon the east end, and upon part of its back or ridge, piled one upon another, with no little labour—doubtless in order to form a sufficient chamber for the remains of the person there buried—not easily to be disturbed. The whole tumulus is an excessively large mound of earth, 180 cubits long (i.e. 320 feet), ridged up like a house. And we must needs conclude the
- ↑ Since 1836, the MS. of this unpublished work of Aubrey's has been preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.
- ↑ Abury, p. 46. Tab. xxxi. compare Tab. xxx. for the date; and Tab. xxi. and xxii. or distant views of the barrow. In a collection of unpublished sketches and papers of Stukeley's, which fell into the hands of Gough and are now in the Bodleian, are two or three plans and drawings of South Long Barrow, showing the position of the stones on the surface at the east end, much as they still remain.
