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Adam's Grave


Adam's Grave was a Neolithic long barrow near Alton Barnes in Wiltshire, southwest England. It has been scheduled as an ancient monument.

The barrow is considered to be of the Severn-Cotswold tomb type. These generally consist of long, precisely built trapezoidal earth mounds covering burial chambers. Because of this they are a type of chambered long barrow. The chamber, made of sarsen stones, contained partial human skeletons. An arrowhead was also recovered. There is a breast shaped hill in the spot with the remains of the barrow being 70 metres (230 ft) long and around 7 metres (23 ft) high with ditches on either side. It was partially excavated by John Thurnam in 1860. The area around Adam's Grave has a high density of long barrows and is important because of its archaeological potential.

The arrangement of stones around the site suggests there was once a kerb or forecourt. They are known as ‘Old Adam and ‘Little Eve’ and are near the original entrance to the barrow. According to folklore the barrow is the grave of a giant and his ghost has been reported. Associations with Avebury have also been suggested.

In the Anglo-Saxon period it was known as "Woden's Burg" and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records two battles at the site in 592 and 715.


Coordinates: 51°21′20″N 1°50′14″W / 51.35556°N 1.83722°W / 51.35556; -1.83722


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