Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/185

 PRE-HISTORIC ARCII/EOLOaY OF EAST DEVON. 153 tlic assistance of another member of the Devonshire Associa- tion, Mr. R. M. Lingwood, in conjunction "with whom also many of the results that have attended our excavations at ]3road Down have been obtained. Selecting the central barrow of the group as the most promising, and with a better provision of workmen than is often the case, w^e com- menced operations b}- driving towards the centre a trench four feet wide, which was kept on a level w^ith the natural surface of the soil. The barrow was about sixty feet in diameter, and, as we were told, was originally six feet in perpendicular height ; at the present time it is reduced to about three feet by the action of the plough. The con- structive materials of the mound were ascertained to consist of sand and clay, with a slight admixture of peat, and a few stones. Owing to unfavourable weather our day's work was soon brought to a close. V^o resumed operations on a sub- sequent morning by cutting a second transverse section from cast to west across and beyond the centre of the mound, but still without any definite result. On laying bare the last course, a few fragments of charcoal appeared, which induced us to continue the work. We then proceeded to remove the whole of the central portion of the barrow in a circle about thirty feet in diameter, when a little additional clearance revealed a heap of burnt clay and red ashes, which occupied a circular space of four feet in diameter, and three feet in thickness, — its limit also being well defined. It may be inferred that this deposit originally occupied the centre of the mound, and that, cither by the disintegrating effects of the atmosphere acting unequally on opposite sides of the barrow, or by the action of the plough constantly working in one direction, the soil had been worn down on one face of the barrow^ mwe than on tiie other. The removal of the remain- ing portion of the mound was now proceeded with ; and ou disturbing the red brick-like earthy portion of the mass, which was so firmly compacted together as to resemble a cist, charred wood and calcined bones were immediately visible, resting on which was a bronze pin or awl (fig. 3), having the thicker end squared, and wanting a small piece of the point, measuring 2^ inches in length. It was probably used for securing the ends of tlic cloth or skin in which the remains were wrapped after being subjected to cremation. It is similar to the bronze awls often found in urns among the VuL. XXIX. Y