Monument record 2288/1/3 - Early Bronze Age Round Barrow (Aldwincle Barrow 2)

An Early Bronze Age round barrow at Aldwincle, one of a pair (see HER no 2288/1/2; Barrow 1) 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 170 metres southeast of the Neolithic monument SP 98 SE 18 and about 100 metres south east of Barrow 1, the barrow stood about 3 feet high and was spread over a wide area prior to levelling. The ditch was discovered during quarrying, and was circa 30 metres in diameter. Like Barrow 1, it featured a roughly central sub-rectangular grave pit, orientated south-south-west to north-north-east, and again contained the remains of a wooden coffin. However, it differed from Barrow 1 in that the primary burial - again an adult male - was disarticulated and appeared to have been burnt before burial. The sherds of a Beaker were found adjacent to the inhumation. A secondary burial, a child in a shallow grave, was found at the northeast corner of the primary grave. A skull fragment from a human adult was also found nearby.

{1} Two round barrows in Henslow Meadow were levelled by agriculture in 1963 and finally destroyed by gravel quarrying in 1967.
Barrow 2 was originally 60ft to 70ft in diameter and about 3ft high. The skeleton was disarticulated but in a boat-shaped coffin with upright ends. Beside its legs was part of a crushed long-necked beaker.
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 90 to 100ft. The mound had been scraped up from the surrounding area.

{3} Round barrow also excavated in 1967. It was 30m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch, and about 1m high before its destruction. A large rectangular central pit contained a wooden boat-shaped coffin with a disarticulated inhumation burial. Beside its legs was part of a crushed "long-necked" beaker.

<1> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.36 (checked) (Article). SNN4821.

<2> Jackson, D., 1976, The Excavation of Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites at Aldwincle, Northants, 1967-71, p.12-70 (unchecked) (Article). SNN43101.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.4 Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98SE8 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

Record last edited

Jan 11 2023 2:22PM