| Summary : Notgrove Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered tomb of the Cotswold Severn type situated on the crest of a ridge in the Cotswold Hills. The long barrow mound was trapezoidal in plan and orientated east-west. When surveyed in 1974, it was approximately 46 metres long, 30 metres in width and a maximum of 1.7 metres in height. Excavations carried out first by G. B. Witts in 1881 and later by E. M. Clifford gave the barrow an irregular appearance before the structure was completely covered over in-order to protect it sometime after 1976. The mound was originally retained by a dry-stone revetment wall. At the eastern end of the barrow was a recess flanked by extensions of mound on either side, known as the forecourt. Excavations revealed a dome-shaped chamber within the mound, which enclosed a cist containing the crouched burial of an adult male, and on top of the structure the bones of a young female. The chamber was sealed off before the construction of the other features and pre-dates the long barrow. The long barrow featured an inner gallery or passage, aligned east-west approximately 12 metres long and two metres wide. It led into an antechamber, which in turn led into four side chambers and an end chamber to the west. Excavations within the passage and chambers revealed areas of burning, Neolithic pottery, human and animal remains (including the almost complete skeleton of a calf), and flints. There was evidence that the barrow had been robbed and disturbed since at least Roman times. In one chamber, which had not been disturbed, two human skeletons were uncovered beneath a large flat stone. They were accompanied by animal bones and teeth, a leaf arrowhead, and a jet or shale bead. The finds are now held at Cheltenham Museum but the barrow is grassed-over and the interior structure cannot be viewed. |
More information : (SP 0957 2120) Long Barrow (NR) (1)
Notgrove long barrow, excavated by Witts in 1881 and by E M Clifford
in 1934/5, measures 180 ft by 80 ft, oriented E/W. It is a gallery
grave with two pairs of side chambers, one of which retains an
entrance slab with a concavity suggestive of a port-hole entrance.
Within a circular domed structure behind the west end of the
gallery, which it pre-dates, was found a cist containing the crouched
burial of an adult male, and on top of the structure were the bones
of a young female. The remains of at least six individuals were
found in the gallery and chambers, and those of at least two young
people beneath the forecourt. There was evidence that the barrow
has been robbed since Iron Age and Roman times. Finds, including
Neolithic A and B sherds, a leaf arrowhead and some possible Beaker
ware, are in Cheltenham museum. (2-7)
Situated about the middle of an E-W facing ridge the Notgrove long barrow has been reduced, by quarrying, to an amorphous mound measuring 46.0m E-W by 30.0m N-S with an average height of 1.7m. The main elements of the gallery and transepts, however, remain exposed in situ. The domed structure or rotunda is represented by a small mound with small stones protruding from it. The whole site is fenced off and under the care of the Ministry of Works.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (8)
Notgrove Long Barrow evidence discussed as part of review of Neolithic archaeology in Gloucestershire. (9)
Notgrove Long Barrow. Published plan [after Clifford, Source 3] (10)
Notgrove. SP 096 212 (sic) Kinnes lists as a Neolithic chambered round cairn pre-dating a later Neolithic long cairn. The chamber is described as being poygonal, of overlapped and doubled orthostats with a possible corbelled roof which is structurally integral to the cairn and kerb. Fragmentary remains of 1 disarticulated male associated with flakes. (11)
A Neolithic chambered tomb excavated by Witts in 1881 and more extensively by Clifford in 1934-5. The principal features of the site are a circular cairn covering a polygonal corbelled cist circa 1.2 metres high. This cairn stands at the western end of chambered tomb and was roughly central beneath the latter's long mound. Witt examined the passage and side chambers of the tomb. Some of the chambers had clearly been explored previously. In one, which had not been disturbed, he found two human skeletons beneath a large flat stone. They were accompanied by some animal bones and teeth, a leaf arrowhead, and a jet or shale bead. 30 sherds of "rough British pottery" were also found. By 1934, quarrying and robbing had affected substantial areas of the barrow, and finds from Bronze Age to modern date occurred in the disturbed areas. The central round cairn, the earliest structural feature, was relatively undisturbed. The cist was of dry wall construction with a corbelled roof, and appears to have been around 1.2 metres high. It contained the bones of an adult male plus two flint flakes. Within the passage and chambers were areas of burning, pottery of Neolithic and possible Beaker date, human and animal remains (including the almost complete skeleton of a calf, and flints. Human remains had also been placed in a depression at the eastern entrance to the tomb, in the forecourt area. When visited by the Ordnance Survey in 1974, the site was extant as an amorphous mound measuring 46 metres east-west by 30 metres, with an average height of 1.7 metres. The main elements of its passage and chambers remain exposed in situ, with the earlier cairn visible as a small mound with stones protruding from it. (1-13)
New summary below replaced original paragraph above on 11-JUN-2008 to provide a more coherent account of the site.
Notgrove Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered tomb of the Cotswold Severn type situated on the crest of a ridge in the Cotswold Hills. The long barrow mound was trapezoidal in plan and orientated east-west. When surveyed in 1974 it was approximately 46 metres long, 30 metres in width and a maximum of 1.7 metres in height. Excavations carried out first by G. B. Witts in 1881 and later by E. M. Cliffordgave gave the barrow an irregular appearance before the structure was completely covered over in-order to protect it sometime after 1976. The mound was originally retained by a dry-stone revetment wall. At the eastern end of the barrow was a recess flanked by extensions of mound on either side known as the forecourt. Excavations revealed a dome-shaped chamber within the mound, which enclosed a cist containing the crouched burial of an adult male, and on top of the structure the bones of a young female. The chamber was sealed off before the construction of the other features and pre-dates the long barrow. The long barrow featured an inner gallery of passage, aligned east-west approximately 12 metres long and two metres wide. It led into an antechamber, which in turn led into four side chambers and an end chamber to the west. Excavations within the passage and chambers revealed areas of burning, Neolithic pottery, human and animal remains (including the almost complete skeleton of a calf), and flints. There was evidence that the barrow had been robbed and disturbed possibly since Roman times. In one chamber, which had not been disturbed, two human skeletons were uncovered beneath a large flat stone. They were accompanied by animal bones and teeth, a leaf arrowhead, and a jet or shale bead. The finds are now held at Cheltenham Museum but the barrow is grassed-over and the interior structure cannot be viewed. (1-15)
Photographs of finds from the site appear on the Cheltenham Museum website. (14)
Scheduled on 09-MAR-1995 (15)
This source contains a description of the site and various photographs. (16) |