About 70 years ago (ie c 1832) the inhabitants ransacked this tumulus, in quest of hidden treasure, and practically destroyed this link with the past, withiout any advantage accruing. (1)
Cross Hill Tumulus was excavated by Prof FM Heichelhiem in 1947-8; most of the work and recording being done apparently by Mr RH Wildgoose. According to the surviving papers the excavation turned up 3 skeletons and some other bones in the upper part of the mound (but without dating material), various pottery sherds (see Ro - also coins), a few animal bones, some aggregations of stones (one thought to be the old Foss Way) and a Med ring. The mound was not apparently excavated very deeply ... there does not seem to have been any attempt to interpret the "tumulus" itself. There was also some reconnnaisance and trial digging in adjacent fields. Pretentious claims are made in the only published report, (4). The only concrete conclusions to be drawn are that the mound once probably held a gallows, that there were casual interments (no doubt connected with this) in its upper part, and that there was Ro occupation in the area (see L7940). (2)
Stukeley mentions the annual festival held at the Crosshill Tumulus; no details are given, but local information suggests that a cross of turf was cut out of the tumulus during the ceremonies. (This either accounts for the name or is an invention pretending to). (6) The site of this former mound now falls in the N-bound carriageway of the A46, known as the Foss Way. (7)
See also L7940 - Ro finds, L7941 - Med find, M371 - E Med cemetery, M372 - site of Vernemetum, M6000 - Fosse Way.

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

OS Card, Parish File

<1> Thoroton Society, 1902, TTS, p 46 (Published document). SNT329.

<2> Nottm Univ, 1948 ?, Willoughby on the Wolds 1947 - Excavation notes (Monograph). SNT967.

<3> Society for … Ro Studies, 1949, JRS, p 104 (Published document). SNT203.

<4> Peverel Archaeology Group, 1951, Ann Rept 3, pp 25-6 (Published document). SNT1119.

<5> Meaney A, 1964, A Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites, p 200 (Published document). SNT913.

<6> Dean MJ, 1965, Excavation of Anglian Graveyard: Broughton Lodge, p 7 (Monograph). SNT31.

<7> Seaman BH, 1975, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1253.