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:
Four round barrows 740m east of Kitchen Barrow, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on All Cannings DownWest Kennet Avenue and an earthwork bank east of West Kennett FarmLong barrow and abutting bowl barrow 700m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings, forming the focus of a barrow cemetery on North DownThe Sanctuary, Overton HillBowl barrow 400m west of Cooks PlantationBowl barrow 700m south-east of Windmill HillBowl barrow 630m north east of Wick Bottom BarnSite of an oval stone circle and part of an adjacent field system 700m SW of West Kennet long barrow.Devil's Den long barrow, 600m east of White AcreA causewayed enclosure, the core of a round barrow cemetery, part of a prehistoric field system and an associated mortuary enclosure on Windmill HillBowl barrow 375m east of Wick Bottom BarnField system 275yds (250m) N of Field BarnBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownField system E of Kitchen Barrow HillBowl barrow 1km west of Tan HillBowl barrow 130m SSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 800m north-east of Hackpen BarnThree sections of a linear earthwork south west of New BarnBowl barrow 150m north of the Alton White HorseBowl barrow 350m north-east of White Horse PlantationGroup of five round barrows north-east of the Sanctuary: part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bell barrow situated between Bishop's Cannings Down and Easton DownGroup of small enclosures on Horton Down, 910m north east of Easton Down long barrowSquare enclosure 350m north of Wansdyke on Bishop's Cannings DownRichardson medieval settlementBarrow S of WansdykeDitch W of Tanhill FairPair of bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow in The Belt, 350m north east of Hill BarnPreshute Down field systemBowl barrow 870m ESE of New Barn on Monkton DownLong barrow on Horton DownBell barrow 600m west of Beckhampton BuildingsGreen Bank bowl barrow, 230m east of the Avebury henge monumentSharpridge field systemStone circleEarthwork NW of New Town FarmBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 120m north of the Devizes to Beckhampton road on North DownSilbury Hill: a monumental Neolithic mound west of the River Kennet and south of Avebury villageBowl barrow 40m north west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryTwo enclosures on Winterbourne DownSharpridge earthworksBowl barrow forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillBell barrow 300m south-east of Avebury Down Barn forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow 200m south of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 200m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Ten barrows forming part of Fox Covert round barrow cemetery, West Down.Bowl barrow 120m west of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryEarthwork enclosure on Milk HillBeckhampton round barrow cemetery 150m north east of the `Waggon and Horses'Grange Stables bell barrowAvebury Long Stones 380m east of The Grange Stables, BeckhamptonWick Down Farm earthworkEast Kennett long barrow, 600m south of East Kennett churchPrehistoric to post-medieval settlement, cultivation, industrial and funerary remains on Fyfield, Overton and Manton DownsBowl barrow east of the Ridgeway forming part of the Overton Hill Bronze Age round barrow cemetery.Earth Burgh (or Eorth Burh) NW of New Town FarmSwanborough TumpSix bowl barrows 560m north of New Barn: part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownBowl barrow 500m west of The RowPair of round barrows forming part of the Bronze Age round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated 120m NNW of Down Barn on North DownTwo saucer barrows and a pair of bowl barrows 750m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 750m south-east of Windmill HillLangdean stone circleThree confluent round barrows 580m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownGroup of round barrows on Rough HillAvebury henge and stone circlesRemains of `Falkner's Circle', a Neolithic stone circle 180m east of the West Kennet AvenueWest Kennet bell barrow, 160m north-west of West Kennet long barrowPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 400m south west of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 300m south of Fox Covert forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownEarthwork enclosure N of WansdykeWest Kennett Farm palisaded enclosuresBowl barrow 800m south-east of Tanhill PenningPair of Bronze Age bowl barrows 200m WSW of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow on Kitchen Barrow HillBowl barrow 200m north of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryWansdyke: section from S of Furze Hill to Marlborough-Pewsey roadEnclosed Iron Age farmstead 450m south of Down Barn on Bishop's Cannings DownBowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Allington DownGroup of six round barrows forming part of a Bronze Age cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett FarmFour bowl barrows forming part of a cemetery 270m east of long barrow on Roughridge HillBowl barrow 640m south west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBell barrow 75m west of Red ShoreLong barrow on Easton DownBowl barrow forming part of a linear round barrow cemetery on Allington DownBowl barrow 500m north-west of Berwick Bassett ClumpPair of round barrows and section of linear earthwork NE of the gallops on West DownSouth Street long barrow, 70m south east of the Long StonesEarthwork W of New Town FarmWinterbourne Bassett moundBowl barrow immediately west of the Ridgeway, 400m north east of its junction with Green StreetBowl barrow 770m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownLinear barrow cemetery on Hackpen HillBowl barrow 230m west of The Grange, BeckhamptonBowl barrow 950m SSW of Beckhampton Plantation, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBell barrow 350m south-west of Barbury BarnHarepit Way linear boundaryPair of bowl barrows 150m north of the Wansdyke on All Cannings DownBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery 400m north-east of West Kennett Farm on Overton HillGroup of barrows on Draycott HillKitchen Barrow: a long barrow on Kitchen Barrow HillAll Cannings Cross, an Early Iron Age settlement siteRound barrow cemetery 400m south of Avebury henge monument on Waden HillBowl barrow 50m south-east of the `Sanctuary' forming part of the Overton Hill round barrow cemetery.Bowl barrow 1km north-east of Avebury and 70m north of Green StreetGrange bowl barrow 130m north west of The Grange Stables bell barrow, BeckhamptonPenning bell barrow 600m east of Avebury Down BarnPair of round barrows 400m west of the Ridgeway, forming part of a round barrow cemetery situated on Avebury DownSaucer barrow 250m east of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 750m south-west of Manor Farm: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemeterySaucer barrow 600m west of Beckhampton BuildingsBell barrow on Easton DownTwo bell barrows and a bowl barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery adjacent to the Devizes to Beckhampton road on North DownThree bowl barrows 600m south-west of Knap CottageBowl barrow 900m south west of the junction of the Ridgeway and Green Street, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownThree bell barrows and a pillow mound 400m south-west of Knap CottageShrunken medieval village site E of Avebury TrusloePair of bowl barrows on West Down, 550m east of Witch PlantationBowl barrow 50m south of The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, forming part of the Seven Barrow Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 200m east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 400m south of Tanhill PenningPair of round barrows 200m SSE of Windmill Hill: part of the Windmill Hill round barrow cemetery.Adam's Grave: a long barrow on Walker's HillPair of bowl barrows 650m south west of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownLong Stones long barrow 150m north of Beckhampton HouseGroup of four round barrows 500m south-east of Avebury Down Barn, forming part of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownBowl barrow forming part of a cemetery 800m east of Kitchen BarrowEnclosure on Horton DownTwo round barrows W of New Town FarmSection of Wansdyke and associated monuments from east of The Firs to the eastern side of Tan HillRound barrow forming part of the Fox Covert round barrow cemetery on West DownKnap Hill camp near Alton PriorsRybury campA henge, four Bronze Age barrows and part of a Roman road 500m south west of Fox CovertSaucer barrow 620m north of New Barn: Part of a barrow cemetery on Monkton DownEarthwork enclosure on Allington DownBowl barrow on Calstone Down, 500m south of Witch PlantationBowl barrow 650m ESE of New Barn, between Avebury Down and Monkton DownMedieval settlement remains immediately west of The VicarageBowl barrow 70m north of Green Street and east of the Avebury henge monumentBarrow on Avebury Down, S of track from AveburySection of Roman Road 560m north east of Beckhampton BuildingsTwo bowl barrows 670m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownBowl barrow 750m east of New BarnBowl barrow 200m south of Green Street and 1100m east of the Avebury henge monument, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Avebury DownTwo bowl barrows 320m south-east of Little LondonThree Roman burial mounds, a Bronze Age bowl barrow, a pagan Saxon inhumation cemetery and a short length of Roman road on Overton Hill.Horslip long barrow, 450m north-west of Horslip Bridge.Bowl barrow 800m south of Hemp KnollThree Bronze Age barrows 200m NNW of Down Barn forming part of a barrow cemetery situated on North DownBowl barrow 750m south west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownBowl barrow 190m north east of Nolands Farm, YatesburyBell barrow 660m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton DownEarthwork enclosure 950m SSE of Manor FarmBowl barrow 50m north east of East Kennett long barrow forming part of a cemeteryFour earthwork enclosures on All Cannings DownSection of the WansdykeIron Age enclosure on Overton Hill, 600m north west of North FarmBowl barrow 300m south-east of Walker's PlantationPair of bowl barrows situated on the south east of Bishop's Cannings DownBell barrow forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownGroup of four round barrows 300m north west of the junction between the Ridgeway and Green Street on Avebury DownSaucer barrow on North DownBowl barrow 900m SSE of Green BankLinear round barrow cemetery 200m ENE of West Kennett long barrowRound barrow cemetery and part of a field system 200m south of Beckhampton PenningBowl barrow situated 60m west of Beckhampton Buildings forming part of a round barrow cemetery on North DownWest Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury HillBowl barrow 610m south east of Beckhampton Buildings, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Horton Down.
