West Kennet Long Barrow by munki-boy
West Kennet Long Barrow
West Kennet Long Barrow is a Neolithic burial mound dating back about 5,500 years. It is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of a chambered tomb in southern England.# West Kennet Long Barrow Entrance The West Kennet Long Barrow was built about 1,000 years before Silbury Hill. It was constructed from local sarsen stone and limestone, and topped with chalk dug from two side ditches which have now silted up.# Inside West Kennet Long Barrow Inside West Kennet Long Barrow there are five burial chambers which were constructed at the eastern end of the monument. It is possible that the western end of the mound may have been added at a later date and largely constructed of chalk and sarsen rubble.
Tea-lights and wildflowers have been placed inside the barrow - a practice that is fairly common in recent times, which raises dissaproval from some people but although it may be misguided as we can’t possible know the intention of the original creators of the barrow, it is a practice that shows people in modern times have respect for the site. It may also give clues to the interpretation of stages of use for such structures in the past at various times throughout history, for we may not be the first people to do such things. # West Kennet Long Barrow Burial Chambers Excavations have revealed that the West Kennet Long Barrow was used as a communal tomb - at least 46 people were buried here over a 1,000 year period.
The chambers contained the remains of a cross section of the community, men and women, and from the very-young to the elderly. Few complete skeletons were found intact and it appears that bones were rearranged, or sometimes removed altogether, probably as ritual practices.
Analysis of the human bones has shown thai arthritis and toothache were common complaints in Neolithic times.
About 4,000 years ago, the tomb was deliberately filled in and the entrance blocked.# West Kennet Long Barrow Modern Skylight and Cap In 1859 John Thurnam excavated the western chamber and central passage. He was apparently unaware of the existence of the other chambers, which were not excavated until 1955 by Stuart Piggot and Richard Atkinson.
A modern concrete cap now forms the roof of the West Kennet Long Barrow and a small skylight allows some illumination of the interior.
West Kennet Long Barrow is in North Wessex Downs AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Created: 27 November 2016 Edited: 29 November 2023
West Kennet Long Barrow
West Kennet Long Barrow LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around West Kennet Long Barrow
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillKitchen Barrow: a long barrow on Kitchen Barrow HillSaucer barrow 600m west of Beckhampton BuildingsField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillFour bowl barrows forming part of a cemetery 270m east of long barrow on Roughridge HillSaucer barrow on North DownSquare enclosure 350m north of Wansdyke on Bishop's Cannings DownLong barrow and abutting bowl barrow 700m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings, forming the focus of a barrow cemetery on North DownGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownPreshute Down field systemSharpridge earthworksEarth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmBell barrow situated between Bishop's Cannings Down and Easton DownBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillSharpridge field systemBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownStone circleAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryLong barrow on Horton DownSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningWinterbourne Bassett moundBowl barrow 400m west of Cooks PlantationGroup of round barrows on Rough HillBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 190m north east of Nolands Farm, YatesburyFour round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow on Kitchen Barrow HillTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsSection of the WansdykeBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownEnclosure on Horton DownTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchWick Down Farm earthworkPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownBowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 400m south west of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a cemetery on North DownSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillHarepit Way linear boundaryBowl barrow 500m west of The RowTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownTwo bell barrows and a bowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery adjacent to the Devizes to Beckhampton road on North DownThree Bronze Age barrows 200m NNW of Down Barn forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Earthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnPair of bowl barrows 650m south west of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Earthwork enclosure N of WansdykeKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsAvebury henge and stone circlesEarthwork NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownGrange Stables bell barrowPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnGroup of barrows on Draycott HillBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Calstone Down, 500m south of Witch PlantationWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 640m south west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownSection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 120m north of the Devizes to Beckhampton road on North DownGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowRybury campDevil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreBell barrow 600m west of Beckhampton BuildingsSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBell barrow on Easton DownGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownTen barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Three Roman burial mounds, a Bronze Age bowl barrow, a pagan Saxon inhumation cemetery and a short length of Roman road on Overton Hill.Bowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 350m north-east of White Horse PlantationGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnLangdean stone circleThe Sanctuary, Overton HillShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloeRichardson medieval settlementTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonDitch W of Tanhill FairBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Bowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated 120m NNW of Down Barn on North DownBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownEarthwork W of New Town FarmBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillAdam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesSwanborough TumpPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownField system 275yds (250m) N of Field BarnBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownBowl barrow 750m south west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburyThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowBowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillLong barrow on Easton DownBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Pair of bowl barrows on West Down, 550m east of Witch PlantationAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonEnclosed Iron Age farmstead 450m south of Down Barn on Bishop's Cannings DownHorslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Pair of bowl barrows situated on the south east of Bishop's Cannings DownA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBarrow S of WansdykeBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Bowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap Cottage.
