Excavations of Tumuli on the Brading Downs, Isle of Wight. Author(S): John E
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Excavations of Tumuli on the Brading Downs, Isle of Wight. Author(s): John E. Price and F. G. Hilton Price Source: The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 12 (1883), pp. 192-196 Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2841956 . Accessed: 16/06/2014 06:23 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 195.78.109.66 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 06:23:28 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 192 J. E. PRICE.-On Excavationsof Tuwanui The followingpaper was read by Mvr.J. E. PRICE:- EXCAVATIONSof TUMULI on the BRADINGDOWNS, ISLE OF WIGHT. By JOHNE. PRICE,F.S.A., and F. G. HILTONPRICE, F.S.A., F.G.S. [WITH PLATE X.] THE excavationof the Roman buildingsat Morton,near Brading, in the Isle of Wight,has up to the presenttime not resultedin any discoveriesof a characterwhich could withpropriety claim any especial recognition,in the proceedingsof the Institute; but as our Journaloccasionally admits archaeologicalcommuni- cations(useful often for purposes of comparison),and moreover already contains descriptionsof researchesamong the tumuli and grave-moundsof this country,it may be well to briefly chronicle the results of an examinationwhich we had the opportunityof makinglast autumn,of some of the well-known barrows on Nunwell and Brading Downs. Our work at the villa being temporarilysuspended, owing to the presenceof the crops,and othercircumstances, we availed ourselvesof the kind permissionaccorded by Lady Oglanderto investigatethe various tumuliwithin the limits of her estate,several of which are in closeproximity to the villa. The situationof thosenow excavated is one of the finestin the neighbourhood;it is on the summit of that picturesquerange of hills which,extending across the middle of the island,runs moreor less in an unbrokenline from Culver Cliffto FreshwaterGate; upon the summit is the old road, the highwayfrom Brading by Arretonto Newport,the commercialcentre of the island; a limitaryhedge marks one side of the ancientway, and near theretothe barrows,or rathersuch of them as remain, can be readily distinguished. Imperfect examinationshave clearlybeen made fromtime to time,which, added to the gradual levelling of the soil and the steady operationsof nature,have in many cases nearlyobliterated the elevated sites,and to the unpractisedeye manydifficulties might presentthemselves as to the mnostdesirable spots for excavation; and it is to be regrettedthat those who in formerdays explored these barrowshave not publishedan exhaustivereport of their investigations,partial in manycases, but sufficientto destroy, forhistorical purposes, many interestingfeatures. The largesttumulus, which is nearlycircular, is about 60 feet in diameterand 5 feethigh at the highest part. In the cenltre it is only 2 feet6 inches. The site of this tumulus is marked upon the ordnancemap and it is locally known as the " Punch Bowl," or " Devil's Punch Bowl," a designationwhich, as is well This content downloaded from 195.78.109.66 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 06:23:28 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions on theBrading -Downs. 193 known, has been often applied to barrows,and originated doubtlessin the legends and superstitionswhich found favour withthe countrypeople in formerdays; the bowl or cup-like formbeing due eitherto the pernicioushabit of explorers,when excavatingtumuli, of excavatinga shaftor pit in the verycentre of the mound,with the expectationof droppinigat once on the anticipatedtreasure, perhaps finding nothing and abandoningthe work,or fiomthe fact of the barrow having been raised over cists containingurns or intermentsby inhumatioln,which gradually perishingarid givingway, led to a subsidenceof the soil in the crownof the tumulus. There is a traditioncurrent amongthe labourerson the estate thatin this hollowportion of the "Bowl" a large stone formerlyexisted, that it was removed fromits position by mischievouspeople, and sent rollingdown the hill, and that,for some time after,it was to be seen near to a ditch or path adjoining Nunwell House. We instituteda carefulsearch with one of the labourers,but was unable to trace the stone. It is possiblethat it had some association with the tumulus,and perhapssome significanceas a limitarymark, or it may have been only placed therein recenttimes for the support of a staffor pole, the situationof the mound being one which mighteven be selectedfor a beacon. Both on the promontoryat Bembridgeand on that at Freshwatersuch beacons once existed, and in the midstof ancient sepulchres,around what is known as the sea-mark,a mass of masonryon Ashey Down, and visible miles away at sea, are,congregated tumuli, no less than twelve of whichwere once partially examined by the Isle of Wight Philosophicaland ScientificSociety, and the resultsare recorded in vol. x. of the " Journalof the British ArchaeologicalAssocia- tion.)" Our examinationof the " Punch Bowl" commencedin July last; we began by cuttinga trenchdirect through the diameter of the mound, the width of the trenchbeing about 3 feet. Cuttingin thisdirection we were enabledthoroughly to explore the centre. Near to the junctionof the upheavedsoil, compris- ing manytons of chalk, withthe surfaceof the ground,there appearedwhat may be describedas a layer of charcoal,extend- ing (as it would seemfrom its being again metwith in the cross- cuts, subsequentlymade) throughoutthe circumferenceof the barrow. Associated with this layer of charred wood were severalfragments of bothhuman and animalbones, and scattered pieces of earlyBritish coarse sun-dried pottery. Traces of cremationwere present,but the mound havingbeen previously disturbed,nothing perfect or in situ was disclosed. We next proceededwith a trenchin a southerlydirection, extending from the centre to the edge of the tumulus,about 8 feetwest of This content downloaded from 195.78.109.66 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 06:23:28 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 194 J. E. PRICE.-On Exeavatiamsof Tumvli this; anothercutting was made,and herewas discovereda skeletonof a childwhich Professor Flower has been kind enough to examine,and pronouncesto bethat of an individualabout nine yearsof age. Theseremains, together with some of the pottery found,are exhibited. The body was in a contractedposition; the positionof thehead pointingto thenorth-east has no especial significance,it having been clearly shown by barrow-diggersthat therewas but littlerule in thisrespect. The skeletonwas nearly complete,but the bones very fragmentary hind decayed; near to it was founda snall urn,or cup, of very early, but ofcoarse and crumblingpottery, and so fragmentarythat but little has been saved. Amongthe relics appeared a primitiveand interesting object,viz., the basal portionof the antler of a reddeer through whicha holehad beendrilled transversely to thelong axis of thehorn. This artificial perforation is quadrilateral in shape,and intendeddoubtless for the reception of a handle. It measures 6i inches in length,and the hole, which is 1 inch in diameter,is cut throughit at 2 inchesfrom the thickestend (see fig.). CanonGreenwell and Mr.Franks, who haveseen it, consider it to be a hammerof Britishmake, and veryrare. It is much to be regrettedthat it was injuredby theexcavators before they observedwhat was beingthrown out of the trench. Therewere a considerablenumber of flint flakes taken out of these trenches, and some smallfragments of Britishpottery, and a fewanimal bones,mostly splinters. We shouldstate that our trenches,north, south-east and west,were about4 feetin width,also theinner circular trench, butthe smaller cuttings were slightly less. In thetrench east and west,at a pointabout 12 feetfrom the eastend, and at 2j feetfrom the surface, resting upon a layerof charcoal,a bonepin, tooth of an ox,bits of pottery,and bones werefound. Adjoiningthis spot a small earthenwarecup of coarseBritish pottery, several flint-flakes,pieces of bone,and fragmentsof pottery were also discovered,but no indicationsof human boneswere met with,notwithstanding great care was taken. We nextturned our attentionto makinga circulartrench This content downloaded from 195.78.109.66 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 06:23:28 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions on theBrading Downs. 195 throughthe highestportion of the mound; measuringfrom the principaltrenches already made, we commenceda trench3 feet wide,at 12 teetfrom the east end, 14 feetfrom the north end, 18 feetfrom the west end, and 9 feet from the south end. Throughoutthis excavation, the black line was distinctly visible at a depthof about 21 to 3 feetfrom the top. Finding nothingparticular in this circularcutting beyond a few flakes and bits of pottery,a few extra sectionswere cut on the south side with a view of ascertainingwhether any secondaryinter- mentshad been