West Kennet: Long Barrow 1010628.

West Kennet Long Barrow is 2km or so south of Avebury, pre-dating its famous stone circle by 1000 years or so. There is a parking area beside the A4 and a walk of about 1km up to the ridge-top site. Boots recommended.

At its eastern end this 100m long mound has a short (12m) passage, with 4 side-chambers. Excavations in 1859 and 1955 have shown that this monument was built about 3650BC and continued in use for about 1000 years. Remains from 30-50 people were left inside when it was filled and closed up, about 4000 years ago.

This panorama (Vscale x4) shows the view and fit of landscape with luni-solar patterns.

Silbury Hill is visible cutting the north-western horizon but was built some 1000 years later than this site.

North is on a hilltop [Pic]. South is also on top of a hill [Pic], though not at the highest point but at its east basal step. Also, it is mid-way between the far hilltop and the nearer one in front of it.

To the north-east, the basal dip of the slope is a week south of the summer cross-quarters with summer solstice at the top of the slope. Lunar major eighth is at the following dip with the major standstill period delimited by the next hilltop.

The main dip of the eastern horizon is a half-month north of the equinox. The passage is centred about a week south of the equinox but is wide enough that the sun probably shone into it for the full half-month leading up to and including spring equinox.

South-eastwards, winter cross-quarters are at the end of a ridge, with an intersect dip a week south of it. The next hilltop is half-way to the solstice which falls in the following slight dip. Lunar major eighth is at the next dip with the major standstill period marked by the next hilltop.

To the south-west, lunar major eighth is on a hilltop with lunar mid-point indicated by the basal step and winter solstice sunsets at the following slight rise of the ground. Winter cross-quarters are at the bottom of the slope and marked by the intersect with nearer ground.

Much of the western horizon is now fairly featureless but the axis of the mound points a week or so south of the equinox. Thats a week before the spring equinox and after the autumn one. This coincides with a slight dip caused by the intersect of local and more distant ground, on which a hilltop is half-way between the equinox and summer cross-quarters.

The north-west is again fairly featureless but summer solstice sunsets are marked by an obvious intersect dip.

• Silbury Hill is visible on the horizon c.950m north-west (327°)
• Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is the only other Long Barrow that has been surveyed so far.
• Other visited, photographed & assessed but not yet surveyed English sites are:
• Belas Knap Long Barrow
• Rollright Stones

Technical Notes | Top

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References

• http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/west-kennet-long-barrow/
• West Kennet Long Barrow English National Monument Register list-entry
• East Kennet Long Barrow English National Monument Register list-entry