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XI. Account of Tumuli opened in Wiltshire, in three Letters from Mr. William Cunnington to Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. F.R.S. and F.A.S. Communicated by Mr. Lambert

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

William Cunnington
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Extract

The numerous tumuli or barrows, that meet the eye of the traveller in every direction, as he passes over the Wiltshire and Dorsetshire Downs; naturally excite the curious mind to know the history of these ancient and simple monuments.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 15 , 1806 , pp. 122 - 129
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1806

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References

page 122 note [a] Mr. Douglas, in his Nenia, has given a very interesting account of the contents of a great many barrows, which he has illustrated with most elegant drawings. But these tumuli are, with a few exceptions, on the Downs in Kent; and appear to have been the burial places of a distinct people, and posterior to those found in Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Dorsetshire.

page 124 note [b] I confess I am almost at a loss to appropriate these bone instruments to any other use; yet the thickness of the ends, which are persorated, at first sight operates against their having been used for that purpose, as also against their use as needles. I think it probable the holes were made for the convenience of stringing them, and a rough stone acting a file would soon reduce the large end, to a proper size for the head of an arrow or lance. There were three of a more delicate form, that appeared to have been used as needles, but these were broken in pieces.

page 124 note [c] Antiq.Cornw. 2d ed. page 316, he gives a drawing of a flint celt found in Cornwall, which is very similar to fig. 3, but this was not found in a barrow. Montsaucon Vol. V. gives figures of two flint celts like the above; these latter I believe were found in a tumulus, but I have no recollection of any having been found in the barrows in this country.

page 125 note [d] It is veined a little like Purbeck marble

page 125 note [e] I have since seen a similar stone in a fling, which was brought from one of the Sandwich islands. W.C.

page 126 note [e] I have accompanied this with a drawing of the barrow, and part of the beads, by Mr. Crocker, and request your acceptance of them.

page 127 note [f] These are finely coated with the Armatura, acquired by lying a length of time in the earth.

page 128 note [g] The length on the top 21 feet.

page 128 note [h] A circumstance very common.

page 128 note [i] See fig. 5.

page 128 note [k] You see only a part of this plate: the whole length was about six inches; the pieces broken off had holes in the corners, perhaps used as a breast plate.

page 128 note [l] See fig. 1; the base of this is neatly ornamented.

page 128 note [m] See fig. 2, 3.