Tumulus
A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a mound of earth and stones thrown up over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows or burial mounds and may be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn.
In Britain, early references to tumuli were made by William Camden, John Aubrey, and William Stukeley. During the 19th Century in England the excavation of tumuli was a popular past time amongst the educated and wealthy middle classes who became known as "barrow-diggers". This leisure activity played a key role in laying the foundations for the scientific study of the prehistoric past in England.
Types of barrows[edit | edit source]
Archaeologists often classify tumuli according to their location, form, and date of construction. Some types are listed below:
- Bank barrow
- Bell barrow
- Bowl barrow
- D-shaped barrow
- Fancy barrow
- Long barrow
- Pond barrow
- Round barrow
- Square barrow
List of notable barrow diggers[edit | edit source]
- Thomas Bateman
- Sir Richard Colt Hoare
- William Cunnington
- Rev. Bryan Faussett
- Canon William Greenwell
- Llewellyn Jewitt
- Rev. W. C. Lukis
- John Robert Mortimer
- Augustus Pitt Rivers
- John Thurman
- Charles Warne
References[edit | edit source]
- Grinsell, L.V., 1936, The Ancient Burial-mounds of England. London: Methuen.
External links[edit | edit source]
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