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Long Barrows and Neolithic Elongated Enclosures in Lincolnshire: An Analysis of the Air Photographic Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Dilwyn Jones
Dilwyn Jones
Affiliation:
RCHME, Shelley House, Acomb Road, York YO4 4HB
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Abstract

The long barrows of Lincolnshire have been the subject of long-term but intermittent interest. One aspect not investigated hitherto is the air photographic evidence for plough-levelled long barrows. Recently completed mapping work in the county by the Aerial Survey section of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), as part of the National Mapping Programme, has made possible the analysis of the air photographic evidence. This article presents an evaluation of that evidence and considers its significance in terms of the Neolithic of the region.

A comprehensive survey of air photo collections has dramatically increased the number of long barrows known in the county, identifying over 50 examples of levelled sites. The majority are found on the chalk Wolds where the dozen surviving earthwork monuments are located. The distribution of long barrows in the county may now be extended onto the Jurassic Limestone ridge to the west where five examples have been recorded. The Lincolnshire long barrow enclosures have three categories of shape; oval, trapeziform, and oblong. The ditch plan is predominantly full-enclosing, and is found as the distinct form in the eastern region of England. The morphology and dimensions of two sites suggests they may have been a long mortuary enclosure or short cursus.

At Harlaxton in the southern Limestone a long barrow enclosure forms part of an extensive later Neolithic ritual complex which incorporates a multiple pit-alignment as a principal component. The form of the complex appears to be unique and underlines the importance of Harlaxton as an inter-regional link.

Résumé

Les tumulus longs dans le Lincolnshire ont été au centre d'un intérêt de longue durée mais intermittent. Un aspect qui ne fait pas l'objet de recherche jusqu'à maintenant est l'ensemble de documents aérophotogrammétriques pour les tumulus longs qui ont été nivellés depuis l'antiquité par la charrue. Du travail de cartographie entrepris récemment dans le comté par la section de relevés aérophotogrammétriques de la Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), faisant partie du programme national de cartographie, a rendu possible l'analyse des documents aérophotogrammétriques. Cet article présente une évaluation des documents et examine leur significance en ce qui concerne le Néolithique de la région. Une vue d'ensemble des collections aérophotogrammétriques a dramatiquement augmenté le nombre de tumulus longs connus dans le comté et a identifié plus de 50 exemples de sites livellés. La plupart d'entre eux se trouve sur les collines calcaires nommés Wolds où sont situées les environ douze levées de terre. La distribution de tumulus longs dans le comté peut être étendue jusqu'à la rangée de coteaux de calcaire jurassique à l'ouest où cinq exemples ont été notés. Les enclos de tumulus longs dans le Lincolnshire ont trois catégories de forme: ovales, trapézoïdes et rectangulaires. Le plan de fossés pour la plupart d'exemples renferme tout et se trouve comme la forme distincte dans la région est de l'Angleterre. La morphologie et les dimensions des deux sites font penser qu'ils étaient peut-être un enclos mortuaire long ou bien un cursus court.

A Harlaxton dans le sud calcaire un enclos de tumulus longs fait partie d'un complexe rituel datant du Néolithique plus récent qui contient un alignement multiple de fosses comme constituant principal. La forme du complexe semble unique et souligne l'importance de Harlaxton comme point de liaison entre les régions.

Zusammenfassung

Seit langem schon, wenn auch nur periodisch, waren die langen Hünengräbe von Interesse. Ein Aspekt der ebengepflügten, langen Hünengräbe wurde bis jetzt noch nicht untersucht: die Luftaufnahmen des Beweismaterials. Die jüngst in der Grafschaft fertiggestellte Kartographie, die von der Aerial Service Section of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England (RCHMC) (Luftvermessungsabteilung der Königlichen Kommission für historische Denkmäler in England) beauftragt wurde, ermöglichte als Teilprogramro des National Mapping Programme (nationalen Kartogrophien-programms) die Analyse der Luftsaufnahmen des Beweismaterials. Dieser Artikel zeigt eine Auswertung dieses Beweismaterials und erwägt ihre Bedeutung in Bezug auf das Neolithikum in dieser Gegend. Eine umfassende Vermessungsarbeit dieser Luftaufnahmensammlung hat auf dramatische Weise die Anzahl der bekannten, Hünengräbe in dieser Grafschaft erhöht. Dabei wurden fünfzig Exemplare geebneter Gelände identifiziert. Der Großteil dieser wurde in den Kalkstein Wolds, wo ein Dutzend erhaltener Erdfortifikationen -Beispiele liegen, gefunden. Hünengräbe könnten jetzt in dieser Grafschaft bis zum jurassischen Kalksteinkamm (Jurassick Limestone) im Westen verteilt sein. Dort wurden fünf Exemplare verzeichnet. Die Lincolnshire-Hünengräbe treten in drei verschiedenen Formen auf: oval, trapezförmig und länglich. Der Grabenplan war so gedacht, dass er überwiegend völlig eingefriedet war, ein charakteristisches Merkmal dieser Graben in Englands östlichen Regionen. Die Morphologie und die Dimensionen zweier Gelände deuten darauf hin, dass diese lange Leicheneinfriedungen oder kurze Kursa sein könnten.

Im südlichem Kalksteingebiet bei Harlaxton bildet die Hünengraber-Einfriedung einen Bestandteil eines umfassenden spät-neolithischen Ritualkomplexes. Als Haupbestandteil dieses Komplexes galt ein mehrfaches Grabenalignement. Die Form dieses Komplexes scheint einzigartig zu sein und unterstreicht die Bedeutung von Harlaxton als zwischenregionale Verbindung.

Résumen

Los túmulos en galería de Lincolnshire han sido objeto de prolongado, si bien intermitente, interés. Un aspecto no estudiado hasta ahora es la evidencia que la fotografía aérea aporta acerca de túmulos destruidos por el arado. La Sección de Fotografía Aerea de la Real Comisión de Monumentos Históricos de Inglaterra (RCHME) ha completado recientemente la compilación de mapas del condado, permitiendo el análisis de la evidencia de las fotografías aéreas. Este artículo presenta la evaluación de dicha evidencia, y considera su importancia para el conocimiento del Neolítico de la región. El exhaustivo reconocimiento de las colecciones de fotografías aéreas ha aumentado drásticamente el número conocido de túmulos en galería en el condado, identificando más de 50 ejemplares de túmulos destruidos por el arado. La mayoría se encuentran en los suelos calizos de los Wolds, donde se conocen docenas de monumentos aún en existencia. La distribución de los túmulos en el condado debe extenderse ahora también a la estribación de caliza jurásica (Limestone) al oeste, donde cinco ejemplares han sido registrados. Los recintos de los túmulos alargados de Lincolnshire tienen tres formas: ovales, trapezoidales y rectangulares. El trazado del foso normalmente rodea todo el monumento, siendo ésta la forma distintiva de la región oriental de Inglaterra. La morfología y dimensiones de dos de los yacimientos sugieren que pueden haber sido recintos alargados de función funeraria, ó “cursus“ cortos.

En Harlaxton, en la parte sur del Limestone, se haya un recinto de túmulo que forma parte de un amplio y más tardío complejo ritual del Neoliítico. Este incorpora una alineación múltiple de pozos, como su elemento más destacado. La forma del complejo parece ser única, y subraya la importancia de Harlaxton como enlace inter-regional.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 64 , January 1998 , pp. 83 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1998

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