Re: Barrow cut through by the Romans | Forum

nigelswift Nov 15, 2006 11:36:59

Replying to moss

"presumably flooded at times by the Kennet"
Well, it's certainly right against the flood plain so it could also be said to being prone to being periodically almost surrounded by water in a startlingly Silburyesque manner - depending if you're a believer or not.

"And why did the Romans "trash" it"
But did they? Where exactly was their road relative to the modern one? Maybe the actual road missed it and the only incursion was the road's built-up embankment ONTO it (and a lot less than in modern times)? That might be an important distinction to the Romans.

I have mentioned a couple of times I think its not round but has a number of distinct facets (like Silbury) but no-one has agreed or disagreed. I wish someone would go and look.

A statistical question: what are the chances of a broken (votive?) bronze age axe turning up at the base (indeed, in the "moat") of a mound that isn't Bronze Age?

StoneLifter Nov 15, 2006 11:55:37

Replying to nigelswift

None of these questions matter, in this context. Highly valid though they are. All that matters is 'publication' - not here, elsewhere.

moss Nov 15, 2006 12:21:29

Replying to nigelswift

A statistical question: what are the chances of a broken (votive?) bronze age axe turning up at the base (indeed, in the "moat") of a mound that isn't Bronze Age?

Rare - its out of context for a start, more like disturbance at a later date, roman intrusion, so you still come back to where you started. Its that juxtaposition of it being at the bottom of a hill next to marshy and presumably boggy ground that doe'snt strike right, only excavation is going to tell. Silbury is a one-off like Stonehenge, a single vision at a particular time....