| Site Name: |
Giants Grave (long barrow), Charmborough |
| Civil Parish: |
Holcombe |
| Grid Ref: |
ST 6790 5128 (ST 65 SE) |
Long barrow almost on the Kilmersdon boundary. Now an amorphous mound with no clear limits (T394). Trees on it recently felled. {1}
Opened by Skinner in 1826, revealed human and animal bones. {2}
Opened again in 1909 by Wickham - primary deposit of bones of many individuals differing in age and sex, leaf-shaped flint arrowhead from SW end of mound. The finding of RB sherds and coins suggested that the barrow had been opened in Roman times. {3}
Barrow much denuded, and all that remains are three large slabs of stone. {6}
115ft long, 60ft wide and 3ft high, orientated NE-SW (Holcombe I). {7}
A small crescentic scarp, max height 0.8m is all that remains. {8}
Arrowhead in Taunton museum but the other finds cannot be traced. {9}
Formerly called "Charleborow". {10}
Said to be the grave (or one of the graves) of the Giant Gorm, and said to be the site of a great battle. Situated in a field called "Giant's Ground". {11}
References:
| 1 |
Mention - University of Bristol Spelaeological Society - Tratman's barrow catalogue, T394 |
| 2 |
Historical reference - BM Skinner ms 33674 folio 274-8 (31.07.1823) and 33692 folio 260-4 (01.09.1826) |
| 3 |
Mention - Wickham, J.D.C 1912 "Records by Spade and Terrier", 1-13 |
| 4 |
Mention - Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological. Nat. History. Soc. Bulleid, A 1942 "Chambered Long Barrows of N Somerset" vol 87, 64-7 |
| 5 |
Mention - Daniel, G.E 1950 "Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales", 232 |
| 6 |
Mention - Proc Downside Arch Soc 1:2 (1949) |
| 7 |
Mention - Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological. Nat. History. Soc. Grinsell, L.V 1971 "Somerset Barrows, part 2" vol 115, 85-6 |
| 8 |
Detailed records - Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division 1966 ST65SE6 (SCC Planning Department) |
| 9 |
Finds stored - Somerset County Museum Acc No A-2248 |
| 10 |
Mention - Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological. Nat. History. Soc. Grinsell, L.V 1971 "Somerset Barrows part 2", vol 115, 71 |
| 11 |
Mention - Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological. Nat. History. Soc. Grinsell, L.V 1971 "Somerset Barrows part 2", vol 115, 68 |
| 12 |
Mention - Dobson, D.P 1936 "Archaeology of Somerset", 53 |
| 13 |
Historical reference - BM Skinner ms 33695 folio 4-7 (06.10.1826) |
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