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Burrow, Barrow or Bullseye.
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wysefool
wysefool
107 posts

Burrow, Barrow or Bullseye.
Aug 26, 2008, 12:58
Hiya Scubi63,

There seems to be very little info about this one. Cholsey as a settlement and general area seems predominantly saxon in heritage (http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/cholsey.html) so a Saxon Burial might be a good guess.

There is prehistoric activity further afield towards Wallingford:

"Cromarty, A.M.; Barclay, A.; Lambrick, G. (2005) Late Bronze Age Ritual and Habitation on a Thames Eyot at Whitecross Farm, Wallingford: The Archaeology of the Wallingford Bypass, 1986-92. Thames Valley Landscapes Monograph S.
The site at Whitecross Farm, including timber structures located on the edge of the eyot, and a substantial midden and occupation deposit has been securely radiocarbon-dated to the late Bronze Age. The late Bronze Age artefact assemblages are suggestive of a high-status site, with a range of domestic and ritual activities represented. The bank of the Grim's Ditch earthwork was found to have preserved evidence of earlier settlement, dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, and a sequence of cultivation, including ard marks and 'cord-rig' cultivation ridges. Pottery and radiocarbon analysis dated the earthwork to the end of the late Iron Age or the early Roman period. A multi-period settlement, consisting of pits, a waterhole, postholes, gullies and field systems, was identified at Bradford's Brook, Cholsey. The main periods represented are late Bronze Age and Romano-British, while a small quantity of Saxon pottery indicates limited Saxon activity. A large pit containing late Bronze Age pottery, a cattle skull, waterlogged wood and plant remains, a complete loomweight and flint flakes has been interpreted as a waterhole. A series of radiocarbon dates were obtained for deposits within this feature. All three sites are discussed individually as well as within their local, regional and national contexts."
(source: http://uk.geocities.com/[email protected]/studies)

Given the monastic earthworks in cholsey, maybe it could be a medieval pillow mound? or as you say, a rifle range target? I think this all depends on how 'round' it was and how eroded it was.

Not much bronze age activity in the immediate area (i visited the remains of some barrows on the other side of the river thames near barracks farm many years ago).

I guess if I had to take an evens bet I'd go for a Saxon one, but it would just be a guess. And, your guess is as good as mine!

Regards

WFx
baza
baza
1308 posts

Re: Burrow, Barrow or Bullseye.
Aug 26, 2008, 17:47
The MAGIC map has it marked as "Butts (dis)".

So its something to do with the old rifle range.

http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/opener.htm?startTopic=magicall&chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=457573,187608&startScale=13033


baz
scubi63
463 posts

Re: Burrow, Barrow or Bullseye.
Aug 26, 2008, 19:11
baza wrote:
The MAGIC map has it marked as "Butts (dis)".

So its something to do with the old rifle range.

http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/opener.htm?startTopic=magicall&chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=457573,187608&startScale=13033


baz


Thanks Baz (and WF), thats what I thought it said but wasn't sure.

Is it posible that the mound existed before the rifle range?
I am still unsure why the mound has not been ploughed out as it isn't particularly big and is right in the middle of the field.

I am quite happy for this to be removed from TMA if the general concensus is that it is 'post pre-history'.

Still it was a nice day out at the time

:o)

Scubes
wysefool
wysefool
107 posts

Re: Burrow, Barrow or Bullseye.
Aug 27, 2008, 13:51
'Is it posible that the mound existed before the rifle range?
I am still unsure why the mound has not been ploughed out as it isn't particularly big and is right in the middle of the field.'

---

It's certainly poss that the mound existed before the rifle range. Barrows (round or otherwise) have been re-used many times, for such things as mounds for the base of windmills (why build another mound when one is already there?) and for other purposes (locally i'm thinking http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4625/lord_wantage_monument_barrow.html - which was built on top of an existing barrow).

I wouldn't rule it out, but until such evidence exists to prove it either way, then it's in limbo.

---

I suppose if something has been there a while, then most farmers would just plough around it (gradually eroded the edges). It would be a fair bit of effort to get rid of it, and the Archers or Country File might be a more attractive alternative! :-)

WFx
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