Plan of Chambers in West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury, Wiltshire

This drawing shows the position of human remains found in 4 of the 5 burial chambers inside West Kennet Long Barrow. There were also remains in the 5th chamber but these were removed and not drawn as part of a much earlier excavation of the Long Barrow. West Kennet Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered burial mound (tomb). It is believed to have been built in around 3400 BC. Inside there is a 12 metre long central passage with five small chambers opening off it (shown here). The chambers contained the remains of at least 46 people. Many of the burials were incomplete - some bones were missing. Others appear to have been grouped together in particular parts of the barrow, for example the dominant type of bones were: men in the West Chamber, men and women in the North-West and South-West chambers, children and young people in the South-East chamber and older people in the North-East chamber.

Location

Wiltshire Avebury

Period

Prehistoric (to AD42)

Tags

neolithic prehistoric barrow drawing death burial archaeology remains