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Belas Knap

Long Barrow

Belas Knap (Long Barrow) by Emma A A pretend old map of Gloucestershire. What does "long-headed" mean?
Emma A Image Credit: Emma Alsop
Posted by Emma A
26th October 2014ce
NB: Unless otherwise stated, this image is protected under the copyright of the original poster and may not be re-used without permission.

Comments (9)

Love that! No idea - did they have elongated skulls like Amenhotep?

[Went to Norbury and Combend Barrow yesterday, following your recommendations at last.]
thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
26th October 2014ce
Oh good! Hope you liked it! Emma A Posted by Emma A
26th October 2014ce
Yep, although it was a very dull day for pictures. The barrow is very good, must be one of the biggest (non-ploughed) round barrows in Glos. thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
26th October 2014ce
Another recommendation for the next time you're out that way - The Colesbourne Inn is very nice now! It has changed since I last went there. That's where I took this photo. Emma A Posted by Emma A
26th October 2014ce
Small world, I walked past it yesterday. thesweetcheat Posted by thesweetcheat
26th October 2014ce
So it seems that the people buried in Belas Knap literally had long heads! A friend has just sent me this link:
http://www.archaeologyuk.org/ba/ba63/feat3.shtml
Emma A Posted by Emma A
27th October 2014ce
Belas Knap and the controversial 'round' headed Neolithic skull..

There was a bit of a hoo-ha about the discovery of a round skull in amongst the 'long' skulls traditionally associated with long barrows.
Initial thoughts were that it must be a secondary burial, but radiocarbon dating on all of the skulls gave 4000-3700bc, with Mr round head in the middle of the range.





Evergreen Dazed Posted by Evergreen Dazed
27th October 2014ce
Yes that's what the article says! I haven't looked any further into this at all, but I do wonder how these long and round skulls compare to "normal" or average skulls today. Emma A Posted by Emma A
27th October 2014ce
Well, I can't talk for others but those Victorians would definitely have considered me one of the beaker folk. Head like a bloody medicine ball. No graceful Neolithic skull here unfortunately ;) Evergreen Dazed Posted by Evergreen Dazed
27th October 2014ce
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