Monument record MDO8783 - Round Barrow, Bournemouth Airport, Hurn

A Bronze Age round barrow excavated in 1941 in advance of the construction of RAF Hurn. The barrow had been recorded as surviving about 12 m in diameter and 1.4 m high before World War 2. Excavation showed that the mound was built of turf, and contained a cremation burial in a Deverel-Rimbury urn placed in a small central pit. Beside this and on the surface was a square stain about 5 mm thick which may have been the remains of folded leather or cloth.

Tumulus; 20 paces in circumference and 5 ft high. Top flattened and surface rather irregular - but apparently undisturbed. <2>

The mound measured 39 ft in diameter, max height 4'8". Primary Burial: A small pit 16" deep had been dug in the centre of the barrow. This had been filled with black earth, charred wood and some cremated bones, which had escaped from the urn (Deverel-Rimbury) found standing upright in the pit with its rim flush with the old surface. Beside this and on the surface was a square stain less than 1/4" thick which may have been folded leather or cloth. Measurements of urn:- Diam at rim 9" Height 16" " " base 6" Maximum girth 11 3/4". <3>

No visible remains. Site now covered by Hurn Airport. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1907-38 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ 11099869) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Crawford, O G S, Annotated record map 6 inch (Map). SWX7265.

<3> Piggott, C M, 1943, 'Three turf barrows at Hurn, near Christchurch' Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club (Article in serial). SDO13064.

<4> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 28-NOV-51 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000997 (Index). SDO14738.

Ordnance Survey plan SZ 1198: Showing archaeological sites SZ 19 NW6 and 7 (round barrows). Ordnance Survey plan annotated with ink.

<6> Jefferies, Jeff, 1999, The Barrows of Christchurch. Their Past, Present and Future, Appendix 1. Barrow Record 19 (Unpublished document). SDO20590.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458384 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2024 12:56PM