Barrow — ring-barrow in Carbury

Standing to the N of the summit of Carbury Hill and the northernmost of four closely associated sites; another, smaller, ringbarrow (KD008-005----), c. 20m to the SE, and a possible mound barrow (KD008-003----), c. 120m to the SSE (on the summit of the hill), all three excavated by Willmot in 1936 under a State financed scheme for the relief of unemployment (1938, 130-42). A fourth possible ringbarrow (KD008-048----) was recently reported by Jean-Charles Caillere and lies c. 50m ESE of KD008-004----. KD008-004---- is Wilmot’s ‘Site B’. Only part of the central area and a section of the enclosing element at E were excavated. The grass-covered circular area (int. diam. c. 30m) was found to be defined by an inner, rock-cut fosse (Wth c. 4.5m; D c. 1.1m), and an outer 'bank' (Wth c. 4.5m; H c. 0.8m) constructed of broken stone and gravel, with a possible (but unexcavated) entrance gap at the NE. The central area was composed of a layer of decomposed rock (D c. 0.45-0.6m) and contained two postholes of undetermined function and nineteen burials. These included four cremations, two of which were disturbed, and fifteen extended inhumation burials, four of which were children, and some of which contained the remains of more than one individual. The cremations appeared to precede the inhumations and one was accompanied by two iron rings and a pin-shaped fragment of iron. All the inhumations had their heads placed towards the SW, and one was accompanied by an iron shears. Other finds included flint scrapers and knives, a stone disc, a sherd of pottery of undetermined type and a 'bronze knob'. The two burial rites suggest a long period of use, perhaps spanning the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age period. The monument was subsequently restored to its pre-excavated shape. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of revision: 8 June 2023