Monument record 1340/1/1 - Withington Hall Barrow Cemetery

Bronze Age round barrow. Prior to excavation mound was 0.8 to 1.4m high (1). Excavation in 1976/7 by David Wilson. Mound, 20m diam x 0.6m high, comprised a turf stack covered in sand & revetted with turf. No quarry ditch. Primary burial was an unurned cremation of a women c.18 years old who may have died from a blow to the head. The body was cremated & the large bones were broken & probably placed in a leather container. This was placed in a pit & covered with a square of turf, which in turn was covered with a layer of sand & gravel, then charcoal. The mound was then built over this. A date of 1490+/-100 bc (c1900 BC) was derived from associated charcoal. There were also 2 or perhaps 3 unurned secondary cremations. A shallow scoop, 20 cm from the primary pit contained cremated bone & 2 teeth. 2 other unurned cremations in pits were also traced. The earliest of these secondary cremations was dated to 1350+/-100 bc (c1700 BC).Just outside the perimeter of the barrow was a pit containing fragments of an inhumation. C14 date of AD 609-674 cal (1 standard deviation) or AD 544-778 cal BC (2 standard deviations) (8). Flint implements were found throughout the barrow, including scrapers, transverse arrowheads, small blades & utilised pieces. There was no pottery (2) & (3). Also a copper rivet from the primary burial (4). Pollen analysis showed there had been local forest clearance in the area, but that there was some regeneration at the time of the erection of the mound. There was evidence of both pastoral & arable farming in the vicinty (2).

<1> Longley D, 1979, Prehistoric Sites in Cheshire, /33 (Report). SCH2719.

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 6/66-68 Wilson D 1978 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/72-73 + 85 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Wilson D 1986 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<6> Various, Current Archaeology, 76/1981/155-157 Wilson D (Y) (Journal/Periodical). SCH1031.

<7> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 22586 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<7> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22586 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<8> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Wilson D 1997 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<9> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, p.3 (Book). SCH1389.

<10> British Library, 1756-Present, Additional Manuscripts (Addit. MS.), Foote Gower (Paper Archive). SCH122.

<11> Unknown, Bodleian Library: Manuscripts, Foote Gower (Book). SCH378.

<12> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.21 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.