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. [1] [2] [3] It lies to the west of the village of Rodmarton, south of the road between Cherington and Tarlton. [1] There are trees growing on the site. [1]
It is approximately 21 metres (69 ft) wide and 60 metres (200 ft) long, and is oriented from east to west. [4] The construction consists of approximately 5,000 tons of stone, under a mound. [1] The only portion of the stones that can still be seen is a fake entrance, which lies at the eastern side of the mound. [1]
The site is managed by Gloucestershire County Council, under the guardianship of English Heritage.
Digging took place in 1863, and again in 1939, after which the mound was restored. [1]
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. [1] Animal remains were also uncovered, including boar tusks, horses teeth and calf jawbones. [2]
Two tombstones, were unearthed in the first dig, and these are approximately 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) in height, and a third and larger stone was leaning against them, seemingly placed in that position. [2] It was noted at the time that this specific arrangement was similar to cromlech mounds in Kilkenny, Ireland, and in Cornwall. [2] The third stone may have been placed in this manner for use in sacrifices. [2]
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 transverse direction. [2]
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", [2] and the English word win which has similar meaning. [5]
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