West Kennet

Neolithic (New Stone Age) long barrow or burial mound near Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, England. The barrow, which appears to have followed a careful plan, is remarkably intact. The main entrance at the east end leads into a chamber about 11 m/35 ft deep, with four side chambers and a single end chamber of the transepted gallery-grave type. These structures consist of large stone slabs and were covered with an earth mound over 100 m/330 ft long by 20 m/65 ft.

The megalithic chambers may have been integral to the design or added later when the site became more important, as at the Wayland's Smithy long barrow, Wiltshire, England. It is possible that certain rituals required open chambers and social change led to changes in the design.

The chambers contained many cremated and inhumed bones, suggesting that the barrow was intended for repeated use and may have functioned as a collective burial place or a chieftain's family vault. Change in use over time can be seen through systematic archaeological excavation and analysis of openings and infills.