EXCAVATIONS.

chapter I.

FIRST EXCAVATIONS OF LONG CHAMBERED BARROW, AUGUST, 1909, AT CHARMBOROUGH HILL.

THE barrow upon Charmborough Hill, in a small field called the " Giant's Ground," having for some time attracted my notice, was explored in August, 1909. Lord Hylton, the proprietor, cordially gave his consent, and the tenant, Mr. Candy, threw no obstacles in the way. Mr. Thomas Bush, Hon. Sec. Bath Arch, and Nat. Hist. Assoc., came over to superintend operations, and Jack White, an expert quarryman, of Holcombe, with Fred. Mines, an able-bodied and willing farm labourer, were employed to do the work. We had also a keen-eyed and zealous helper in Miss Gundred Haig.

Interesting remains were soon unearthed at a depth of only two feet. These remains consisted of several human skulls and bones lying closely packed together in groups, generally between vertical stones, and sometimes overlaid with slabs of stone. These were all found in one part of the mound, in close proximity to the large entrance stones, and at the base of the two which still stand, apparently in their original position, at the east end entrance of the barrow. (Plate I.) (The third stone, which had evidently once formed the cap stone rested upon the other two, which were covered with earth, stood on its side further off.) Some of the skulls and bones were submitted to the inspection of the late lamented Dr. John Beddoe, whose report upon them is as follows........... '