Monument record MDO47795 - Bronze Age Barrow north of Maiden Castle, Winterborne St Martin

An unidentified round barrow excavated circa 1840 by J Sydenham. His barrow 9, it is listed by Grinsell as Winterborne St Martin 34d. Sydenham's description was rather concise: "A large barrow near the latter [SY 68 NE 158] contained but one interment by inhumation, the body having been deposited with the legs drawn up". Although the group of 5 barrows excavated by Sydenham (see associated records) have generally been identifed with the group immediately outside and to the northwest of Maiden Castle, some may be identified with barrows slightly further afield.

Five barrows close to Maiden Castle (SY 6688) were excavated before 1843 by John Sydenham. (They may be identified with a group immediately north west of the earthwork. See SY 68 NE 30).

No 7. A small barrow "contigious to the outer agger of ... Maiden Castle." It contained three inhumations on the ground surface and a small urn near its summit.

No 8. A barrow close to the above contained a primary cremation with a gilt bronze ogival dagger and a flat rivetted knife dagger.

No 9. A large barrow near the above contained a crouched interment, probably primary.

No 10. Another large barrow in the same group contained a cremation.

No 11. A barrow "somewhat north of the last" contained a skeleton at ground level and two intrusive interments. Fragments of ash
and charcoal were scattered throughout the mound. (1-3)

The five barrows referred to as having been excavated by Sydenham may include the two centred at SY 66428873 (SY 68 NE 30),
but the large barrows mentioned would probably be those centred at SY 66638932 (SY 68 NE 26). <5>

<1> Sydenham, J, 1844, An account of the opening of some barrows in south Dorsetshire; Archaeologia 30, 327-338 (Article in serial). SDO17222.

<2> Warne, C, 1866, The Celtic Tumuli of Dorset (1866), 46 tovp 74 (Monograph). SWX8166.

<3> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 153 (Monograph). SDO132.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 471 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 21-MAY-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452171 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 13 2024 7:22AM