United Kingdom

Shrub's Wood Long Barrow

Neolithic unchambered long barrow, Kent

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Historical Context

About

Shrub's Wood Long Barrow is an unchambered long barrow located near to the village of Elmsted in the south-eastern English county of Kent. It was probably constructed in the fourth millennium BCE, during Britain's Early Neolithic period. Built out of earth, the long barrow consists of a sub-trapezoidal tumulus flanked by side ditches. Archaeologists have established that the monument was built by a pastoralist community 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, Shrub's Wood Long Barrow 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 with Julliberrie's Grave, while the third known example in this tumuli group, Jacket's Field Long Barrow, is located on the western side. Shrub's Wood Long Barrow was discovered in the late 1960s, although it has yet to undergo thorough archaeological investigation.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Probable construction

4th millennium BCE

Kent forest clearance

c. 1000–700 BCE

Modern recording

1970

Early Neolithic period

c. 4500–3800 BCE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

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Defensive Structures

Ditches
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Burial and Funerary Structures

TombsGraves
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Religious and Ritual Structures

Ceremonial Platforms
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Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
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Transportation and Communication Structures

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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

51.17° N, 1.00° E