Silbury Hill, viewed here from the path to west Kennet Long Barrow, is the largest man-made Neolithic hill in Europe and its function remains a mystery. Several excavations have found no evidence of a burial there although that function does remain a possibility.

The area is also dotted with barrows in addition to the Long Barrow.

Unfortunately the top of the hill collapsed a while back and the hill awaits repair as I write.

The hill is built of chalk, from Avebury, and was built about 2500BC.

Local legend has it that it is the burial place of King Sil (or Zil), said to buried under the mound sitting on a golden horse.

The barrow lies to the south of the hill and is considerably older than Silbury Hill - it thought to have been constructed around 3500 - 3400BC, and was in use for a thousand years, when the entrance was blocked with chalk rubble and the large stones that stand in front of the entrance now were placed. It seems likely that the barrow still retained its spiritual function

About 50 people were buried inside the tomb, probably the powerful leaders of the local community. The evidence suggests that the bones (in particular the leg bones and skulls) were removed occasionally for use elsewhere, and that they were defleshed before disarticulating them and placing them in the barrow. (A bit gruesome by modern standards, but you need to keep yourself busy ...)

The passage part occupies only 1/8 of the barrow's total length and there are two burial chambers either side of it. At the end there is a larger polygonal one.

The entrance was a bit flooded while I was there - the lady on the right is trying to get in without getting her feet wet!

On the way home:

Top