Reasons for Designation
D-shaped barrows are funerary monuments of the Middle Neolithic period,
broadly dating to 3000-2400 BC. Along with long barrows and oval barrows, they
represent the burial places of Britain's Neolithic farming communities. They
were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, the long straight sides of which
were elaborated by facades of posts or large stones. Quarry ditches are
sometimes present. Where investigated, D-shaped barrows have produced evidence
of burials in box-like chambers or in pits. Accompanying ceremonial deposits
and sometimes secondary burials are also known. D-shaped barrows are very rare
nationally, with less than ten recorded examples in England. Due to their
rarity, considerable age and longevity as a monument type, all D-shaped
barrows are considered to be nationally important.
Although the mound of the `D'-shaped barrow 250m east of New Close Plantation
has been reduced by ploughing, the quarry and facade ditches, and the primary
ritual pit, will survive as infilled and buried features. These will contain
rare and valuable information in the form of artefacts and organic material,
including animal and human remains, relating to the period of construction and
use of the barrow and to the funerary practices of its builders. The old
ground surface beneath the mound will retain archaeological evidence to
indicate land use prior to the building of the barrow.
The enclosure, enclosure ditch and post hole will contain buried
archaeological evidence for their spatial and chronological associations with
the barrow. All these features will also retain environmental deposits which
may illustrate the nature of the landscape in which the monument was set.
Details
The monument includes the buried remains of a Neolithic `D'-shaped barrow and
outer enclosure situated 250m east of New Close Plantation.
Although the barrow mound has been reduced by ploughing, the infilled ditch is
clearly visible from the air as a cropmark. The cropmark (an area of enhanced
crop growth resulting from higher levels of moisture retention in the fills of
the underlying archaeological features), has been recorded on a series of
aerial photographs since 1976.
The `D'-shaped ditch measures, overall, some 20m north to south and 18m east
to west. The curved section would have provided material for the construction
of the mound whilst the straight, southern side - broken by a central entrance
way - is thought to represent a palisade trench. This may have supported a
number of upright posts or stones forming a monumental facade to the barrow
itself. The entrance way would have provided access to the barrow, perhaps via
a small ritual forecourt.
Although little is known of this rare barrow type, excavations of similar
examples suggest that the mound may have been constructed over a pit
containing a ceremonial deposit containing animal bone.
The barrow is set within a trapezoidal ditched enclosure which measures a
maximum of 80m north to south and 55m east to west. The north eastern corner
of the enclosure ditch is interrupted by a circular feature thought to be a
large post hole. This would have supported a substantial post intended,
perhaps, as a landscape marker. The enclosure may be contemporary with the
barrow, perhaps constructed to define an outer ritual area. Alternatively, it
may represent a later phase of ritual or practical activity focussed on this
location.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 5 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
