The Barrow-downs (S."Tyrn Gorthad"; originally: "Tyrn Hódhath") were a Cardolani province and principality named after a series of chalk and limestone ridges in northern Cardolan situated between the Taur Iaur and Bree-land.These Royal burial mounds, dating back to the First Age, rested atop many of the hills, and the Kings of Arnor and Cardolan also chose the site as their last resting place. Due to the Dúnadan preoccupation with death, many of the barrows were quite elaborate and filled with traps. Since the Great Plague, rumors about terrifying undead living in the Tyrn Gorthad had begun to circulate. The Bree-landers refused to travel upon the hills alone or at night and claimed several townsfolk had disappeared there through the years.