Monument record MDO6352 - Disc Barrow, one of the Oakley Down Group, Wimborne St Giles

A disc barrow with two mounds, one central, and the other slightly off-centre to the south east. In 1975 the RCHM(E) reported that the central mound was 28 feet in diameter and 2½ feet high, and the other mound 30 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. The two mounds are enclosed by a ditch with outer bank.

A disc barrow, part of the Oakley Down barrow group (SU 01 NW 19). it was described by RCHME as comprising two mounds within an area enclosed by a ditch with outer bank. One mound is located at the centre of the enclosed area, and measures 28 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet high. The berm is 60 feet across, the ditch 18 feet across and 2.5 feet deep, and the outer bank "of similar dimensions". The second mound is located in the southeast sector of the enclosed area, and measures 30 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. Excavations were undertaken in the early 19th century by Cunnington and Hoare (their barrow 13). Hoare's description is as follows: "No. 13, a Druid barrow with two mounds within it, had been examined by others, but a fine amber bead had escaped their vigilance". There appears to be no record of this earlier episode of excavation. Suggestions by some (eg Piggott, Grinsell) that the amber bead accompanied a primary cremation are purely conjectural. The amber bead is in Devizes Museum.

The barrow is reported as previously opened, but in one tump a primary cremation has been inferred from the later discovery of a V-bored amber button made from a broken globular bead (Devizes Mus. Cat., 1964, No. 475).

<1> Prehistoric Society, 1938, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 4, 52-106, Wessex grave-group 15 (Serial). SDO18631.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 170 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Annable, F K and Simpson, D D A, 1964, A guide catalogue of the Neolithic and Bronze Age collections in Devizes museum, 61, 116, No 475 (Unpublished document). SDO18620.

<4> Colt Hoare, Sir Richard, 1975, The ancient history of Wiltshire, 241 (Monograph). SDO18077.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 103 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(103) Disc (01781713), (Hoare No. 13), has two mounds, one at the centre and one in the S.E. Part of an amber bead was found, but the barrow had been opened previously (Devizes Mus. Cat., 1964, No. 475). The central mound is 28 ft. in diameter and 2½ ft. high; the S.E. mound is 30 ft. in diameter and 2 ft. high; the berm is 60 ft. across; the ditch is 18 ft. across and 2½ ft. deep; the outer bank is of similar dimensions.'

<6> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke (Monograph). SWX800.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1312382 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 7 2024 7:13PM