Julliberrie's Grave

Julliberrie's Grave

Location within Kent
Coordinates	51°14′26″N 0°58′30″E / 51.240479°N 0.974888°E / 51.240479; 0.974888
Type	Long barrow

Julliberrie's Grave, also known as The Giant's Grave or The Grave, is an unchambered long barrow located near to the village of Chilham in the south-eastern English county of Kent. Constructed during Britain's Early Neolithic period, today it survives only in a ruined state.

Archaeologists have established that the monument was built by pastoralist communities shortly after the introduction of agriculture to Britain from continental Europe. Although representing part of an architectural tradition of long barrow building that was widespread across Neolithic Europe, Julliberrie's Grave belongs to a localised regional variant of barrows produced in the vicinity of the River Stour. Of these, it lies on the eastern side of the river, alongside the Shrub's Wood long barrow, while the third known example in this tumuli group, Jacket's Field long barrow, is located on the western side.

It is 44 metres (144 ft) in length, 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high and measures 15 metres (49 ft) at its widest although it was originally longer. No evidence for any Early Neolithic human remains have been found at the site; it is possible that it never had any human remains placed within it, or that such burials were included in the (since destroyed) northern end of the barrow. A broken polished stone axe was included in the centre of the monument, which archaeologists believe was likely placed there as part of a ritual act of deposition. A rectangular pit was also dug into the western side of the barrow shortly after its completion, likely containing a ritual deposit of organic material, before being refilled.

In the Iron Age a hearth was established in the tumulus' ditch, while the long barrow witnessed extensive activity in Roman Britain, when it was used as the location for the burial of both human remains and a coin hoard. Ensuing millennia witnessed local folklore grow up around the site, associating it with the burial of either a giant or an army and their horses. The ruin attracted the interest of antiquarians in the 17th century, although around the 18th century, the northern end of the barrow was destroyed by chalk quarrying. During the 18th and 19th century, the barrow was dug into at least twice by antiquarians, while cautious archaeological excavation only took place in the 1930s. A Scheduled Ancient Monument, it is accessible to visitors all year around.