The Cotswold
Way Belas Knap
Evidence of ancient settlers is
visible in many areas of the Cotswolds. One feature of their
way of life comes from the so called 'long barrows' they
built. These amazing hand built burial chambers would be the
final resting place of sometimes more than 20 people. Mostly
all of the tombs contained the charred bones of wild boar,
deer, wolf and wild cat.
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A long barrow with a false portal framed by large limestone jambs and lintels, set in a forecourt at the north end. The mound is of limestone blocks bounded by a dry stone wall of thin Cotswold slates. It covers four burial chambers, two on opposite sides near the middle, one at the south - east angle and one at the south end. These are formed of upright slabs linked by dry walling, and were originally covered by corbelled roofs. They contained the remains of 38 human skeletons, together with animal bones, flint implements and pottery of the end of the Neolithic or New Stone Age, circa 2000 BC. The passages leading to the chambers were roughly blocked with stones and clay. The lintels and much of the dry walling were rebuilt on the original lines in 1863-65, when the barrow was first explored. In 1928-31 the walling was secured, three of the chambers covered and the contour of the mound restored. |
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Wonderful views across Winchcombe whilst
walking to Belas Knap.