Monument record MLI43169 - Neolithic Long Barrow, Maidenwell

Summary

Cropmarks of a Neolithic long barrow, 680m west of Maidenwell House.

Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

Cropmarks of a Neolithic long barrow, to the west of Maidenwell House. Identified on aerial photography examined as part of the National Mapping Programme. {1} Neolithic long barrow, situated on the summit of a broad, flat-topped spur, overlooking the head of a prominent dry valley. It is aligned east-south-east to west-north-west, with the long axis running parallel to the contours. It is an oblong-shaped enclosure with a straight east end and convex west end, and measures roughly 52m by 16m. Traces of ridge and furrow cultivation run transversely across the line of the barrow. Field walking conducted in October 1991 revealed no surface traces, but yielded one early Neolithic possibly serrated flint blade, and a pyramidal core for bladelets of probable late Mesolithic or early Neolithic date. {2}{3} The monument includes the buried remains of a Neolithic long barrow some 680m west of Maidenwell House, on the summit of a broad, flat spur overlooking the head of a dry valley and the source of the Burwell Beck. Although the barrow cannot be seen on the ground, its infilled and buried ditch is clearly visible from the air as a cropmark (an area of enhanced crop growth resulting from the higher levels of moisture retained by the underlying archaeological features). The long barrow measures about 42m east to west by 25m north to south inclusive of its encircling ditch. No features have been noted within the ditch, but pits, postholes and burial surfaces can be expected to survive beneath the present ground surface. The surrounding ditch is straight sided with slightly rounded terminals. Its circuit is thought to be complete, suggesting that this is an example of the simple form of Lincolnshire Wolds long barrow which was not elaborated by the addition of a large earthen mound when the funerary rituals were completed. The long barrow is one of a dispersed group of similar monuments which are thought to be associated with the prehistoric trackway now known as the Bluestone Heath Road, and with the river valleys of the eastern Wolds. {4} More recent analysis of the aerial photography for this area shows the barrow as soilmarks, and as an almost wholly levelled earthwork mound. Visible as an oblong chalky mark, the barrow is aligned along a west-north-west to east-south-east axis. It measures 54m long by 20m wide at the eastern end, taopering to 15.5m at the western end. The eastern end is straight and traces of a ditch can be seen extending around this and part of the southern side of the mound. The western half of the barrow is not as clear. {5}{6}

Sources/Archives (6)

  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. Lincolnshire National Mapping Programme. TF3179: LI.54.2.1.
  •  Article in Serial: Dilwyn Jones. 1998. 'Long Barrows and Neolithic Elongated Enclosures in Lincolnshire: An Analysis of the Air Photographic Evidence' in Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. vol.64, pp.83-114, no.27.
  •  Index: Dilwyn Jones. 1998. Gazetteer of Neolithic Elongated Enclosures and Extant Long Barrows in (Historic) Lincolnshire. no.27.
  •  Scheduling Record: English Heritage. 1999. Scheduling document 29733. MPP 22.
  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. OS/71089 098 (21/04/1971).
  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. OS/73488 031 (18/10/1973).

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 3158 7935 (83m by 39m) Estimated from Sources
Civil Parish MAIDENWELL, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Feb 1 2024 1:55PM

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