Monument record MDO5072 - Barrow in Launceston Down South Group, Tarrant Launceston

A bowl barrow recorded as being around 20 feet in diameter and less than one foot high. Excavation in 1938 revealed three extended burials in a shallow pit; these are thought to be intrusive burials, and probably pagan Saxon. The barrow is no longer extant as an earthwork.

Round barrows between 200 ft. and 250 ft. above O.D., extend in an irregular line from W to E on the northwood-facing slope of a dry combe which falls E. to the Crichel brook. All were excavated in 1938 by S. and C.M Piggott; they are no longer visible on the ground.

A probable Early Medieval round barrow, part of a cemetery at Launceston Down excavated in 1938. The barrow is no longer extant as an earthwork. A "vague trace of a ditch" enclosed an area of about 20 feet in diameter, and the mound stood to a maximum height of 0.8 feet above the natural chalk. A shallow irregular "scraping" below the mound contained three skeletons, one laid face-down, the other two on their sides and slightly overlapping the first. There were no artefacts or any other form of dating evidence, but these inhumations and presumably the barrow were probably of Saxon date. Beaker sherds and a few "coarse gritty sherds" were found during the excavations. <1-2> <4>

Three intrusive? Romano-British or pagan Saxon extended inhumations. <2>

Visited by MPPA in March 2000, but since all are heavily denuded, not recommended for scheduling. <5>

<1> Society of Antiquaries of London, 1944, Archaeologia 90, 47-80 (Serial). SDO16830.

Piggott, S and CM. Excavation of Barrows on Crichel and Launceston Downs, Dorset. [Barrow 6]

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 118 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 95501069:ST 95621064:ST 95881056) Tumuli (NR) (sites of) (NAT) (twice)

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 107 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(44) Bowl (95901060), with three extended inhumations, perhaps intrustive and probably of pagan Saxon origin, in a shallow scraping in the chalk; diam. 20 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (Piggott, 6; Dorset Barrows, Long Crichel, No. 19).'

<5> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, SJ Lobb, MPPA, Mar-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210103 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1249207 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2024 12:56PM