5,000-year-old 'House of the dead' discovered between Stonehenge and Avebury
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5,000-year-old 'House of the dead' discovered between Stonehenge and Avebury
5,000-year-old 'House of the dead' discovered between Stonehenge and Avebury
An outline of the inner chamber, which would have been used for dead bodies was seen after a drone flew over CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF READING
12 JULY 2017 • 12:01AM
A"House of the Dead" dating back more than 5,000 years could contain the remains of the ancestors of people who built Stonehenge, archaeologists believe.
A Neolithic long barrow burial mound at Cat's Brain, in Pewsey Vale, Wiltshire, is being excavated by the University of Reading in the first full investigation of such a monument in the county for half a century.
The long barrow, lies in the middle of a farmer's field halfway between the two major stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge, and its existence has been known for decades after a geological survey found the evidence of deep trenches.
The inner building, however, was thought to have been ploughed flat, and it was not until a drone was sent up recently that anyone knew part of it still survives.
The barrrow would have originally consisted of of two ditches flanking a central burial chamber which was probably covered with a mound made of the earth dug from the ditches.
Experts said it was surprising to find lasting evidence of the building and believe it may contain human remains buried there in around 3,600 BC.
It is hoped the Reading University Archaeology Field Schoolinvestigation will provide crucial evidence from the early Neolithic period, which saw Britain's first agricultural communities and monument builders.
Drone footage showed features which could not be seen from the ground CREDIT:UNIVERSITY OF READING
Dr Jim Leary, director of the Archaeology Field School, said: "Opportunities to fully investigate long barrows are virtually unknown in recent times, and this represents a fantastic chance to carefully excavate one using the very latest techniques and technology.
"Discovering the buried remains of what could be the ancestors of those who built Stonehenge would be the cherry on the cake of an amazing project."
The site lies between Stonehenge (pictured) and the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury
The monument dates to the early Neolithic period – an era representing the earliest agricultural communities in Britain, and the first monument builders. The last long barrow to be fully investigated in Wiltshire was in the 1960s.
Having cleared the top soil, the clear outline of the long barrow ditches is visible, as well as the footprint of the building.
The team will now conclude the three-year Archaeology Field School project by excavating the archaeological remains and recover artefacts, bones, and other environmental evidence, which will be analysed.
Amanda Clarke, co-director of the Archaeology Field School, said: "This incredible discovery of one of the UK's first monuments offers a rare glimpse into this important period in history.
"We are setting foot inside a significant building that has lain forgotten and hidden for thousands of years."
In addition to the Cat's Brain long barrow, the field school is working at Marden henge, built around 2,400 BC in the Vale of Pewsey, which is the largest henge in the country but has had little archaeological investigation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/07/11/5000-year-old-house-dead-discovered-stonehenge-avebury/
An outline of the inner chamber, which would have been used for dead bodies was seen after a drone flew over CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF READING
- Sarah Knapton, science editor
12 JULY 2017 • 12:01AM
A"House of the Dead" dating back more than 5,000 years could contain the remains of the ancestors of people who built Stonehenge, archaeologists believe.
A Neolithic long barrow burial mound at Cat's Brain, in Pewsey Vale, Wiltshire, is being excavated by the University of Reading in the first full investigation of such a monument in the county for half a century.
The long barrow, lies in the middle of a farmer's field halfway between the two major stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge, and its existence has been known for decades after a geological survey found the evidence of deep trenches.
The inner building, however, was thought to have been ploughed flat, and it was not until a drone was sent up recently that anyone knew part of it still survives.
The barrrow would have originally consisted of of two ditches flanking a central burial chamber which was probably covered with a mound made of the earth dug from the ditches.
Experts said it was surprising to find lasting evidence of the building and believe it may contain human remains buried there in around 3,600 BC.
It is hoped the Reading University Archaeology Field Schoolinvestigation will provide crucial evidence from the early Neolithic period, which saw Britain's first agricultural communities and monument builders.
Drone footage showed features which could not be seen from the ground CREDIT:UNIVERSITY OF READING
Dr Jim Leary, director of the Archaeology Field School, said: "Opportunities to fully investigate long barrows are virtually unknown in recent times, and this represents a fantastic chance to carefully excavate one using the very latest techniques and technology.
"Discovering the buried remains of what could be the ancestors of those who built Stonehenge would be the cherry on the cake of an amazing project."
The site lies between Stonehenge (pictured) and the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury
The monument dates to the early Neolithic period – an era representing the earliest agricultural communities in Britain, and the first monument builders. The last long barrow to be fully investigated in Wiltshire was in the 1960s.
Having cleared the top soil, the clear outline of the long barrow ditches is visible, as well as the footprint of the building.
The team will now conclude the three-year Archaeology Field School project by excavating the archaeological remains and recover artefacts, bones, and other environmental evidence, which will be analysed.
Amanda Clarke, co-director of the Archaeology Field School, said: "This incredible discovery of one of the UK's first monuments offers a rare glimpse into this important period in history.
"We are setting foot inside a significant building that has lain forgotten and hidden for thousands of years."
In addition to the Cat's Brain long barrow, the field school is working at Marden henge, built around 2,400 BC in the Vale of Pewsey, which is the largest henge in the country but has had little archaeological investigation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/07/11/5000-year-old-house-dead-discovered-stonehenge-avebury/
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