Summary : Site of a Bronze Age bowl barrow on Gallows Hill, Arreton Down. The barrow was originally part of a barrow group of three barrows, but is no longer extant. (For details of the other two barrows see HOB UID 1458694 NMR SZ 58 NW 104 and HOB UID 1458695 - NMR SZ 58 NW 105). The barrow was excavated in 1815 locating a secondary Saxon inhumation with grave goods including an axe, tweezers and a spearhead dating to the early-middle Saxon period. In 1954, an ogival dagger was found on the barrow, after which, in 1956, it was re-excavated. Two Bronze Age inhumations and later cremations were discovered. The barrow overlay a Neolithic settlement. |
More information : (This record originally contained details of three barrows and now only contains details of a barrow originally recorded as Barrow B. The other barrows, Barrow A and Barrow C are now recorded as separate records see HOB UID 1458694 - NMR number SZ 58 NW 104 and HOB UID 1458695 - NMR number SZ 58 NW 105 for details.)
SZ 53548742 Tumuli (O.E.) (1) Barrow now partly destroyed. A skull from this barrow is in the Hare and Hounds Inn. (2) The barrow was excavated by the Turnpike Commissioners in 1815. It consisted of a heap of flints with a crust of earth and chalk. Under the centre was a well preserved skeleton. Several coarse pots containing calcined bones were found. Part of an iron battle-axe, a pair of bronze tweezers and a spearhead are now in Newport Museum. (3) The 1815 excavations are the earliest known discovery of Anglo-Saxon or Jutish antiquities in the Isle of Wight. (4) A bronze ogival dagger was found on the barrow by Timothy Blishen, 'Athenry', Arreton, in 1954, and is in Carisbrooke Museum. (5-6) The barrow was re-excavated by J. Alexander in 1956 for the Ministry of Works. It was found to be a ditched Early Bronze Age barrow, raised over two inhumations with three intrusive cremations. Associated with one of the primary inhumations were three stake circles and two stake lines having 144 stake holes all contemporary with each other and with the primary. The bronze dagger found by Blishen probably came from a destroyed cremation. A faience bead, eight chalk and fossil beads and a bone belthook were found. Beneath the barrow were found traces of a late Neolithc settlement of Peterborough Culture. Including 320-350 sherds of Neolithic pottery, petit tranchet arrowheads, one leaf shaped arrowhead, one barbed and tanged arrowhead, scrapers, blades, flakes, and a discoidal knife, flint axes and a chopper. (7) Full excavation report. (8)
There is now no trace of the barrow. Published 1/2500 revised. (9) History of excavations. Description of Cemetery. Catalogue of graves and grave-goods. (10)
Details of Beaker and Peterborough Ware found at the barrow. (11)
Additional reference (12) |