The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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North Hill (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) — Fieldnotes

There are meant to be two barrows here but only one was cleary visible and this was an obviously robbed out example. However, prior to robbing this mound was once a sublimely shaped but small round barrow situated on the crest of the hill with incredible views along the Downs to Chanctonbury, over the Weald to Blackdown and Leith Hill and south east to Hollingbury, Whitehawk and the sea. Beautiful spot, surrounded by remnant downland heath and gorse. To the north there is a raised and disturbed area covered by gorse and two blackthorn tress, is this the other barrow recorded on the hill? I wasn't convinced.

But why arent these barrows sited on the nearby, higher ridge of Newtimber?, will have to research further but couldnt see a barrow group up there despite the better vantage point. The crest of that hill had no appreciable field monuments except a possible crossdyke/field lynchett and a small dell hole.

A bird of prey I'd never seen before flew over while I sat and wrote notes. may have been a young Red Kite.

North Hill (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>North Hill</b>Posted by Paravellean<b>North Hill</b>Posted by Paravellean

Hollingbury Hillfort — Images

<b>Hollingbury Hillfort</b>Posted by Paravellean<b>Hollingbury Hillfort</b>Posted by Paravellean

Hollingbury Hillfort — Miscellaneous

Found this reference to stones at Hollingbury.

"One word in conclusion, on those earthworks to which I have alluded as, in my opinion, possessing strong claims to be considered of Druidical origin. I refer to the earthworks of Cauburn (sic) and Whitehawk Hill. Others may have possessed similar pretensions, and more particularly Hollingbury, in the vallum and within the inclosure of which portions of Druidical stones are still to be found; and at the southern most of its two western portae, the remains of an upright stone of this kind still stands, projecting a little above the sod, precisely in the position of the two stones at Stonehenge. "

from Turner, E. 1850 Military Earthworks of the South Downs with a more enlarged account of Cissbury, one of the principal of them. Sussex Archaeological Collections Volume 3: 173-184.

Well I don't buy a megalithic monument at Hollingbury for a second but the presence of (presumably) sarsens stones on the hill is interesting. They could have naturally occurred there, the hill being capped with remnant Tertiary deposits, they could well have been included in the fabric of the hillfort. What is clear is that nothing remains of the stones now, unless some lie recumbant beneath the turf, a fact unlikely given the thin soil depth. As with the supposed megaliths at Church Hill and barrows at Whitehawk they remain a mystery, a part of Brighton's lost prehistory.

Hollingbury Hillfort — Images

<b>Hollingbury Hillfort</b>Posted by Paravellean
Sussex archaeologist and writer

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