West Kennet Long Barrow

- England -

"One might fancy to have been the scene
where the giants fought with huge stones against the gods."

John Aubery

The West Kennet Long Barrow is a Neolithic stone monument, located on a prominent chalk ridge, near Silbury Hill, one-and-a-half miles south of Avebury in Wiltshire, England.

The site was studied by the British archeologists John Aubrey in the XVII century and by William Stukeley in the XVIII century.

"On the brow of the hill, south from West Kynnet, is this monument, but without any name: it is about the length of the former, but at the end only rude grey-wether stones tumbled together. The barrow is about half a yard high."

John Aubery, "Monumenta Britannica", 1660

Original sketch by John Aubery, 1660

Dr. Stukeley's description was written about 1725, in winch year, probably, his sketch of the barrow, which he absurdly designates that of an Arch-Druid, was made.

William Stukeley, 1743

Stukeley gives it the name of South Long Barrow, from its situation in respect to Silbury Hill, and the circles of Avebury.

Examination of Chambered Long Barrow, West Kennet, Wiltshire, 1861.
University of Oxford

Sir Richard Hoare's researches in this neighbourhood were made about the year 1814. He speaks of this tumulus as one of the most remarkable of several stupendous long barrows in the neighbourhood of Abury. "According to the measurement we made," he adds, " it extends in length 344 feet; it rises, as usual, towards the east end, where several stones appear above ground; and here, if uncovered, we should probably find the interment, and perhaps a subterraneous kistvaen."
In 1849 it was visited and described by the late Dr. Merewether, Dean of Hereford, who very much underrates the length of the barrow, but whose description in other respects is both more full and more accurate than those of his predecessors.

Examination of Chambered Long Barrow, West Kennet, Wiltshire, 1861.
University of Oxford

South Long Barrow has suffered much at the hands of the cultivators of the soil. Whilst the "Farmer Green" of Stukeley's days seems to have removed nearly all the stones which bounded its base, two being all which remain.

Archaeologists classified it as a chambered long barrow and Megalithic chamber tomb, built by Neolithic peoples in Wales and South West England around 3500 BC. This barrow is the one of the longest barrows in Britain and makes 100 m. The entrance consists of a concave forecourt with a facade made from large slabs of sarsen stones which were placed to seal entry.

© Wessex Archaeology

The construction of the West Kennet Long Barrow is dated 3600 BC.

Examination of Chambered Long Barrow, West Kennet, Wiltshire, 1861.
University of Oxford

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