H.E.R. record

.kmz file

Overview map

Long barrow 70ft long and 32ft at the SW end. Orientated SW to NE with the wider end first. {1}

78ft long, 38ft wide and 6ft high (Priddy I). {2}

1.7m high. A number of stones are visible on the sides but none are earthfast and they probably result from field clearance. {3}

Had been previously opened by Skinner in 1816 but "no cist found as it was not properly opened" {4}

Contour survey done in April 1928 and then excavated by UBSS.

About 24ft from the SSE end was a hearth on the centre of which was a cist, roughly 22" by 14", enclosed by stone slabs. This is thought to have contained a primary internment, perhaps unburned, accompanied by a burnt internment of which a few scraps of burnt bone remained. Placed centrally in relation to both axes of the barrow was a pit c2.5ft diameter filled with fairly large stones. Just above and slightly N were 2 human molar teeth, some tiny fragments of burnt bone and a piece of humerus about 5" long. Nearby was a flint knife. About 15ft from NNW end was a second hearth c5ft by 6ft, with a spread of abundant charcoal. No bone found near it. Structural details included remains of stone revetment wall along most of the side facing ENE - there were traces of a similar wall in the middle of the long side facing WSW. In the natural soil under the SSE end were "keeled scrapers" and a broad triangular flint implement of microlithic type. Barrow presumed to be Neolithic from form and structure. {5}

22m in length, 11m wide at best and 2m high. Good turf cover but some cattle poaching around the edge. One large hawthorn on the mound adjacent to the considerable hollowing on the SW side. {9}

The few finds and all photographic records were destroyed in WWII. {10}

Scheduling affirmed with new national number on 21 {11}

The monument is on the edge of a field under permanent rough pasture with good grass cover. On SW side of mound, a large thorn has encouraged poaching by cattle, though is now grassed over. There is also poaching on NW side around small thorn. Concrete fencing posts have been dumped on the eastern end and are almost grassed over. {12}

A re-interpretation of the remains of the excavation archive has suggested that it is a non-megalithic long barrow where rituals involving the manipulation of human remains took place. Non-megalithic long barrows are characterized by internal structures of wood or turves with long covering mounds of earth, stone or both. Priddy long barrow may have taken the form of two separate "activity" areas: the finding of human remains in the central and southern areas suggested that this may have been the chamber with perhaps a forecourt structure at the northern end. The identification and the interpretation of the "?copper slag" remains problematic. It is unlikely to be Neolithic or Bronze Age. Roman and later interference with Neolithic monuments has been noted previously (a sherd of Roman Pottery was found towards the southern end of the barrow). The cist is unusual, and has few documented parallels. The human remains represent at least two individuals. {13}

The Neolithic long barrow centred at ST 5141 5090 and described above in (1) to (14), is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and Lidar.

The long barrow is sub-oval in shape and measures up to 24m in length by up to 12m in width.

Long barrows were used for the treatment and interment of the dead during the Neolithic period. {14}

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