Verified51.9270° N · 1.8420° W · 260 m
Belas Knap Long Barrow
Belas Knap
Early Neolithic·Cotswold-Severn·🇬🇧 Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom
QuagSwag · Public domain
About
About Belas Knap Long Barrow
Cotswold-Severn long barrow on Cleeve Hill brow, 54 m trapezoidal mound with drystone wall facades and four burial chambers (two lateral, one northern cist, false portal at south). Fornix false entrance of limestone blocks. Built c.3800 BCE, contained 38 burials plus animal bones. Excavated 1863-65, 1928-30, restored 1930-31 with internal passage accessible.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01False portal purpose — spiritual blocking?
Theories
- 01Deceptive architecture to deter robbers
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3800 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic
- Culture
- Cotswold-Severn
- Purpose
- Long barrow collective burial with false portal
- Abandoned
- c.2400 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1863-65, 1928-30
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3800 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1269 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
51.9270° N · 1.8420° W · 260 m · 2 mapped features
Gallery