Barrow-downs

The Barrow-downs, called Tyrn Gorthad in the Elvish tongue, are a country of bare low hills east of the Shire and the Old Forest and south-west of Bree, within the bounds of what was once the realm of Cardolan in Eriador. The Fellowship of the Ring brings travellers to their edge. The green mounds that give the downs their name were raised long ago: Men of the First Age built the first of them, and the Men of the north and afterwards the Dúnedain laid their dead there for age upon age. The hills passed into Elendil's northern kingdom of Arnor, and then to Cardolan when that kingdom was divided. Since the fall of Cardolan the barrows have been left to themselves, and the country about them carries an ill name, for the tombs are said to be walked by wights.