Bronze Age Mound Cemetery Discovered Near Historic Stonehenge; Over 20 Barrows Found at the Area

A vast Bronze Age mound cemetery was found near Stonehenge. The cemetery was constructed at the same time as the majority of the famous monument.

Bronze Age Mound Cemetery Found Near Stonehenge

Per Live Science, over 20 barrows, or circular mounds, were included in the cemetery. These barrows were constructed between 2400 B.C. and 1500 B.C., on a hillside close to Harnam on the Salisbury outskirts.

These barrows were constructed at the same time some Stonehenge central stages were built, as the private company Cotswold Archaeology, which conducted excavations, explains in a statement. However, other than the cemetery's closeness to Stonehenge, there is no proof that the newly found cemetery is linked to the well-known monument.

Several archaeologists think that Stonehenge was also a burial ground. However, it could have also functioned as a calendar or a place for the community back then to gather around.

Barrows and Remains

The barrows have a variety of sizes. As per Live Science, the largest one spans 165 feet, while the smallest one measures 33 feet. However, most of these barrows have diameters that range from 65 to 100 feet, Ancient Origins reports. The barrows could cover just one burial chamber or several burial mounds that were typically built in the same area.

Archaeologist Alistair Barclay from Cotswold Archaeology, who also serves as the post-excavation manager at the site, explains that the barrows were grouped into small clusters of six or in pairs.

The archaeologists reached the area in 2022 and have now excavated five barrows from two areas. Four of these barrows had been identified before, but the fifth one was unknown.

One barrow used to be enclosed inside a ditch that was oval-shaped, and that was replaced with a ditch that was nearly circular. This shows that this particular barrow could have been constructed before the other ones. The statement also adds that a mass grave close to its center contained the remains of children and adults.

The oval ditch was also found to pierce through some red deer antlers, which were historically perceived to be highly prized for ritual artifacts and tool-making. These antlers will be examined for signs of wear or breakage that may show that they could have been used for making tools.

Among the barrows, nine other burials and three other artifacts were found. Some of these goods were pottery breakers, which show that the buried people were from the Bell Beaker culture of the Bronze Age. This culture was widespread across Britain after B.C. 2450.

The archaeology team also discovered evidence that the site was occupied in later periods. They found possible traces of Iron Age cultivation, consisting of over 240 postholes and pits. Some pits could have been used for grain storage, but most were for trash disposal.

Check out more news and information on Archaeology in Science Times.