Monument record 2288/1/2 - Early Bronze Age Round Barrow (Aldwincle Barrow 1), Henslow Meadow

An Early Bronze Age round barrow at Aldwincle, one of a pair (HER no 2288/1/3) levelled for agricultural purposes in 1963 and then destroyed by gravel quarrying in 1967. The place names "Henslow" and "Low Hills" probably referred to them. Located circa 75 metres south east of the Neolithic mortuary structure/barrow (HER no 2288/1/7), the barrow was about 8 feet high and 120 feet in diameter in 1963. The surrounding ditch had not been visible on the surface, but it was subsequently shown to have coincided with the edge of the mound. Some excavation occurred in advance of the gravel quarrying. A roughly central subrectangular grave pit aligned roughly south-south-west to north-north-east contained the remains of a boat-shaped coffin within which was a crouched inhumation of an adult male. At its feet were a barbed and tanged arrowhead, a triangular arrowhead, a scraper, two bone spatulae, a boar's tusk and a whetstone of millstone grit.

{1} Fieldname: Henslow Meadow and Low Hills.

{2} Two round barrows in Henslow Meadow were levelled by agriculture in 1963 and finally destroyed by gravel quarrying in 1967.
Barrow 1 was originally 90ft in diameter and 9 to 10ft high. The primary burial was an inhumation in a boat-shaped coffin with upright ends. At the feet of the skeleton was a barbed and tanged arrowhead, a triangular arrowhead, a flint scraper, two bone spatulae, a boar's tusk and a rubbing stone.
The burial was in a large rectangular grave pit about 10ft by 6ft 6ins and dug 3ft into the gravel. It was orientated SSW to NNE with the head at the SSW end. The surrounding ditch had been re-dug and its inside diameter was about 110ft. The mound had been scraped up from the surrounding area.

{4} Round barrow and cremation cemetery (SP 99738030) excavated in 1967. The barrow was originally some 30m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch, and is said to have been 3m high before destruction. In the centre a large rectangular pit contained a wooden boat-shaped coffin in which was found an inhumation burial with, at its feet, two flint arrowheads, a scraper, two bone spatulae, a boar's tusk and a rubbing stone. In the general area surrounding these barrows a number of small pits containing cremated bones and charcoal, were discovered; in one pit were fragments of an unspecified Bronze Age urn.
Four post-holes were found around one of these pits.

{7} The tumuli have now been quarried away but according to Jackson they stood at SP 99758027 and SP 99808022. Rescue excavations in 1967/68 found Beaker primaries but no secondaries and no associated material was found. Jackson retains all finds.

{8} Finds from the excavated barrow, Aldwincle 1, one end scraper, one millstone grit rubber, two bone scatulae. This was one of two confluent barrows, the second barrow contained an inhumation with fragments of beaker.

<1> JACKSON D., 1964, Investigation of Probable Tumuli at Henslow Meadow, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN55581.

<2> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.36 (checked) (Article). SNN4821.

<3> Jackson, D., 1976, The Excavation of Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites at Aldwincle, Northants, 1967-71, 12-70 (unchecked) (Article). SNN43101.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.4 Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98SE8 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> JACKSON D., 1964, INVESTIGATION OF PROBABLE TUMULI AT HENSLOW MEADOW, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN58357.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 08-OCT-1969 (Notes). SNN112950.

<8> Green S., 1980, The Flint Arrowheads of the British Isles: : a detailed study of material from England and Wales with comparanda from Scotland and Ireland, p. 75 (Monograph). SNN103041.

<9> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890161 (Archive). SNN113295.

Record last edited

Jul 9 2024 10:15AM