Adam's Grave

Adam's Grave was a Neolithic long barrow near Alton Barnes in Wiltshire, southwest England. It has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[1]

Cattle on the side of Woodborough Hill. Adam's Grave breast shaped hill and Walkers Hill on the skyline

The barrow is considered to be of the Severn-Cotswold tomb type.[2] These generally consist of long, precisely built trapezoidal earth mounds covering burial chambers. Because of this they are a type of chambered long barrow. The chamber, made of sarsen stones, contained partial human skeletons. An arrowhead was also recovered.[1] There is a breast-shaped hill in the spot with the remains of the barrow being 70 metres (230 ft) long and around 7 metres (23 ft) high with ditches on either side.[3] It was partially excavated by John Thurnam in 1860.[1] The area around Adam's Grave has a high density of long barrows and is important because of its archaeological potential.[1]

The arrangement of stones around the site suggests there was once a kerb or forecourt.[4] They are known as ‘Old Adam and ‘Little Eve’ and are near the original entrance to the barrow. According to folklore the barrow is the grave of a giant and his ghost has been reported.[5][6] Associations with Avebury have also been suggested.[7]

In the Anglo-Saxon period it was known as "Woden's Barrow" (Old English "Wōdnesbeorġ") and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records two battles at the site in 592 and 715.[8][9][10]

References
  1. Historic England. "Adam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's Hill (1013032)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. Clarke, Bob (2013). Prehistoric Wiltshire: An Illustrated Guide. Amberley. ISBN 9781445623900.
  3. "Adam's Grave". Ancient Wisdom. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  4. "Adam's Grave". Stone Circles. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. "Adam's Grave". Haunted Wiltshire. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  6. Wills, Keith (2014). Haunted Wiltshire. The History Press. ISBN 9780750955188.
  7. Range, Katherine. "A Prehistoric A-Z: Adam's Grave". The Heritage Journal. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  8. "Adam's Grave, AD592 & AD715". The Ravens Warband. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  9. Jebson, Tony. "Manuscript E: Bodleian MS Laud 636". The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  10. Historic England. "Battle of Woden's Barrow AD 592 (221229)". PastScape. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

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