Pond barrow facts for kids
A pond barrow is a special type of burial mound. It is shaped like a perfect circle. It has a dip in the middle, like a shallow bowl or pond. Around the edge, there is a raised rim or bank. This bank is made from the earth dug out to create the central dip.
In the middle of a pond barrow, there is often a pit or a deep hole. Sometimes, this pit holds a burial. Pond barrows can be from 5 meters (about 16 feet) to 30 meters (about 100 feet) wide. They can be hard to spot today because they have become flatter and less visible over a long time.
The History of Pond Barrows
Most experts agree that pond barrows were built a very long time ago. They were mainly created during the middle of the second millennium BC. This means they are about 3,500 years old! Most of them are found in areas like Wiltshire and Dorset in England.
A man named Sir Richard Colt Hoare was the first to properly describe pond barrows. He did this in 1810 in a book about the old history of south Wiltshire. However, another person, William Stukeley, had actually dug into them even earlier. Sir Richard Colt Hoare was the one who came up with the name "pond barrow." Even though "barrow" usually means a hill, these are dips, so the name can be a bit confusing!
What Were Pond Barrows Used For?
Scientists have found only a few human remains inside pond barrows. This suggests they might not have been used only as graves. Instead, they might have been important places for special ceremonies. People might have performed rituals there to honor the dead.
There are other ideas about what pond barrows were used for too. Some think they might have been like wells. Others believe they were used for talking to the world of spirits. Some even suggest they were places for dancing during important events.
