Ancient Sites in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a historic county in England, that comprises part of the Cotswolds Hills, part of the valley of the River Severn and the Forest of Dean. The county contains many ancient sites and here we list 5 places that are worth a visit.

BELLAS KNAP LONG BARROW

Belas Knap Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered tomb, trapezoidal in plan and it consists of a false entrance and four burial chambers. It's believed that it was constructed around 3000 BC by the Neolithic people as a place to bury their dead. The barrow was excavated twice revealing the remains of human skeletons together with animal bones and fragments of pottery. The excavators also reported finding a circle of flat stones beneath the centre of the mound. Unfortunately, these stones were later removed.

MINCHINHAMPTON LONGSTONE

The Longstone of Minchinhampton also known as the Holey Stone is a single standing stone with natural holes in it. It's believed that the monolith is about 4,000 years old. Local legend says that passing a young child through one of the natural holes can cure them of illnesses such as measles or whooping cough. Attempts to pull the stone out with oxen failed as "something" stopped it from being moved, so the stone remained in the field. Nearby is a fallen stone which has been built into a dry stone wall. Some people believe that the fallen stone may have once formed a pair with the Longstone.

ULEY LONG BARROW

Uley Long Barrow also known as Hetty Pegler's Tump is a Neolithic chambered mound in the county of Gloucestershire. The mound is usually described as a long barrow, but it's actually a gallery grave. It's believed that it was built before 3000 BC. The barrow was excavated twice and the remains of fifteen skeletons have been recovered over the years. Coins and pieces of a broken pot were also found, indicating that it was opened in Roman times.

NYMPSFIELD LONG BARROW

Nympsfield Long Barrow is the remains of a Neolithic burial site in the county of Gloucestershire. It's one of the earliest examples of a barrow with separated chambers and it's believed to have been constructed around 2800 BC. The chambers remain uncovered today allowing the layout to be seen clearly. The barrow was excavated in three different occasions and the remains of thirteen human skeletons were found, including the skeleton of a child. Neolithic pottery has also been recovered during the excavations.

WINDMILL TUMP LONG BARROW

Windmill Tump Long Barrow also known as Rodmarton Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered tomb believed to have been built between 4000-3500 BC. The long barrow is trapezoidal in plan and consists of approximately 5,000 tons of stone under a mound. The only stones that can still be seen are two standing stones marking a false entrance. The barrow was excavated twice revealing two tombs behind the false entrance, with passageways to the north and south. The tombs contained human skeletons and also animal remains.

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