This summer’s excavation at Harmony Woods has revealed more evidence of a 4,000-year-old barrow – and brought the community closer than ever to Andover’s prehistoric roots.
The fields of Harmony Woods were once again filled with discovery and community spirit as the “Between the Barrows” project returned for its ninth excavation season, running from 23 June to 4 July 2025.
Led by Dr. Chris Elmer from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with Andover Trees United, the dig continued to explore the remnants of a Bronze Age round barrow – a burial mound once visible in the landscape but now flattened by centuries of agriculture.
This year’s work focused on extending the trench around a clearly defined ring ditch, first confirmed in 2020, and believed to mark the edge of a once-prominent chalk mound. The excavation revealed further chalk-filled soil layers, likely from natural erosion of the barrow itself, and suggested that the monument was larger and more significant than previously thought.
Hands-on Heritage
The dig involved over 200 local schoolchildren and more than 50 adult volunteers, offering hands-on experience in excavation, artefact recording, and even simulated burials using a replica skeleton named Mr. Squires. Pupils from Knights Enham Juniors, Abbotts Ann, and Kimpton Primary all took part, as did members of the Southampton Young Archaeologists’ Club.
Key finds this season included:
- Fragments of Bronze Age pottery
- Flint scrapers, possibly for processing hides
- Animal bone, rare for this soil type
Though no human remains have yet been discovered, the central burial area is thought to remain undisturbed beneath the mound’s collapsed material.
“We believe we’re standing on a Bronze Age barrow,” said Dr. Elmer. “Whether or not there’s a burial, the significance of this site is already clear.”
Looking Ahead
The excavation has further confirmed the presence of a Bronze Age cemetery in the area, once marked by multiple round barrows seen in aerial photos from the 1940s. The project will continue in 2026, aiming to trace the full arc of the ditch and explore more of this ancient landscape.
For Andover, Between the Barrows is more than a dig – it’s a living link to the past, powered by community passion and a shared desire to understand the ground beneath our feet.
To see more images and follow the work, go to the Andover Tress United website.