Monument record MLI54249 - Neolithic Long Barrow, North Willingham

Summary

Cropmarks and soilmarks of a Neolithic long barrow, to the east of North Willingham.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Cropmarks and soilmarks of a Neolithic long barrow, to the east of North Willingham. The long barrow is situated on the summit of the main west escarpment of the Wolds, overlooking the valley of a tributary if the River Rase to the south. It is aligned east-north-east to west-south-west, with the long axis traversing the contours. It is a trapeziform enclosure with convex terminals, measuring 29m by 11m (tapering to 8m). A secondary ring ditch measuring 16m in diameter and thought to be the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow straddles the middle (see MLI126980). Soilmarks of former ridge and furrow cultivation extends across the site. {1}{2}{3}{4} Further analysis of the aerial photographic evidence show the remains of the long barrow as cropmarks and soilmarks, with traces of a shallow earthwork also possibly surviving. The barrow is roughly oval in plan, elongated west to east with maximum visible dimensions measuring 36.5m by 19.5m. It is uncertain whether the low spread earthwork mound is from the later round barrow or the long barrow, or possibly even both. {5}{6}{7} Both the long barrow and surmounting round barrow in this location were scheduled in April 2024. Although both barrows have been degraded by ploughing, the survival of both monuments as buried features had been confirmed by a geophysical survey, conducted in 2018, along with the cropmarks noted on aerial photography. The barrows lie just below the crest of a hill, on a west-facing slope overlooking a valley of a tributary of the River Rase to the south. The Neolithic long barrow is aligned east to west and is defined by a ditched trapeziform enclosure with convex terminals measuring 35m long by 19m wide. Aerial photographs initially suggested that the ditch had openings at its east and west end, but the geophysical survey has confirmed that it forms a complete circuit. The width of the ditch varies, due to spreading of the fills, but may average around 2.1m wide. Valuable archaeological deposits will be preserved on the buried ground surface and in the fills of the ditches. These will provide rare information concerning the dating and construction of the monuments and the sequence of mortuary practices at the site. The same deposits will also retain environmental evidence illustrating the nature of the landscape in which the monuments were set. {8}

Sources/Archives (8)

  •  Aerial Photograph: Hunting Surveys Ltd. 1971-2. Hunting Surveys Aerial Photography. Run 19, Frame 4030 (28/10/1971).
  •  Aerial Photograph: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1946-98. RCHME National Aerial Photograph Collection at Swindon. TF1888/3-5, 7-9 (1995).
  •  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.35.
  •  Index: Dilwyn Jones. 1998. Gazetteer of Neolithic Elongated Enclosures and Extant Long Barrows in (Historic) Lincolnshire. no.35.
  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. MAL/77005 V 206 (28/02/1977).
  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. NMR 12725/23 (28/07/1995).
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. TF 18 NE: 45.
  •  Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1489741.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1826 8858 (70m by 59m) Estimated from Sources
Civil Parish NORTH WILLINGHAM, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

May 31 2024 1:50PM

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