Windmill Tump
Encyclopedia
Windmill Tump, also known as Rodmarton Chambered Tomb, is a neolithic
burial site, a stone tumulus
or barrow
. It is a mound covering the site of graves, in the form of a cairn
, located in Gloucestershire
. It lies to the west of the village of Rodmarton, south of the road between Cherington
and Tarlton
. There are trees growing on the site.
It is approximately 21 metres (68.9 ft) wide and 60 metres (196.9 ft) long, and is oriented from east to west. The construction consists of approximately 5,000 tons of stone, under a mound. The only portion of the stones that can still be seen is a fake entrance, which lies at the eastern side of the mound.
Digging took place in 1863, and again in 1939, after which the mound was restored.
The site contains two tombs, behind the false entrance, with passageways to the north and south. The tombs contained the remains of ten adults and three children. Animal remains were also uncovered, including boar tusks, horses teeth and calf jawbones.
Two tombstones, were unearthed in the first dig, and these are approximately 8 in 6 in (2.59 m) in height, and a third and larger stone was leaning against them, seemingly placed in that position. It was noted at the time that this specific arrangement was similar to cromlech
mounds in Kilkenny
, Ireland, and in Cornwall
. The third stone may have been placed in this manner for use in sacrifices.
Evidence of structured walls to support the cairn were also discovered. with a double-thickness wall surrounding the entire structure, and further walls providing strength in a trasverse direction.
There is no evidence that a windmill
ever existed in the location; instead, one possible etymology derives from the word Nant from Nantoush, meaning "The diffuser of fire or light", and the English word win which has similar meaning.
The site is managed by Gloucestershire County Council, under the guardianship of English Heritage
.
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
burial site, a stone tumulus
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
or barrow
Barrow
Barrow most often refers to:* a cart or flat rectangular tray with handles at each end** wheelbarrow-Other:* a tumulus, a large mound of earth or stone placed over a burial site* a castrated male domestic pig...
. It is a mound covering the site of graves, in the form of a cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
, located in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. It lies to the west of the village of Rodmarton, south of the road between Cherington
Cherington
Cherington is a village and civil parish beside the River Stour about southeast of Shipston-on-Stour. Cherington is contiguous with the village of Stourton.-History:...
and Tarlton
Tarlton
Tarlton may refer to:* Tarlton, Ohio, United States* Tarlton, Gauteng, a small town in South Africa* Tarlton Rayment , Australian artist, author, broadcaster, poet, naturalist, entomologist and beekeeperPeople with the surname Tarlton:...
. There are trees growing on the site.
It is approximately 21 metres (68.9 ft) wide and 60 metres (196.9 ft) long, and is oriented from east to west. The construction consists of approximately 5,000 tons of stone, under a mound. The only portion of the stones that can still be seen is a fake entrance, which lies at the eastern side of the mound.
Digging took place in 1863, and again in 1939, after which the mound was restored.
The site contains two tombs, behind the false entrance, with passageways to the north and south. The tombs contained the remains of ten adults and three children. Animal remains were also uncovered, including boar tusks, horses teeth and calf jawbones.
Two tombstones, were unearthed in the first dig, and these are approximately 8 in 6 in (2.59 m) in height, and a third and larger stone was leaning against them, seemingly placed in that position. It was noted at the time that this specific arrangement was similar to cromlech
Cromlech
Cromlech is a Brythonic word used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.In English it usually...
mounds in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Ireland, and in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. The third stone may have been placed in this manner for use in sacrifices.
Evidence of structured walls to support the cairn were also discovered. with a double-thickness wall surrounding the entire structure, and further walls providing strength in a trasverse direction.
There is no evidence that a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
ever existed in the location; instead, one possible etymology derives from the word Nant from Nantoush, meaning "The diffuser of fire or light", and the English word win which has similar meaning.
The site is managed by Gloucestershire County Council, under the guardianship of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.