Reasons for Designation
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments
dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most
examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as
earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple
burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often
acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar,
although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form
and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl
barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring
across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are
a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable
variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
Dewley Hill is a well-preserved example of an exceptionally large round barrow
which has provided evidence of Neolithic date. This makes it one of a small
group of large round barrows of such early date. The area around the barrow
has provided evidence of Mesolithic and Neolithic activity, and further
evidence will be preserved. Remains in the field around the barrow no longer
survive as earthwork features, but they remain clearly visible on aerial
photographs and considerable information on their dating, exact nature and
relationship to the barrow will be preserved.
Details
The monument includes the round barrow known as Dewley Hill, situated 350m
north east of Dewley Farm, near Throckley. The mound and a series of cropmark
features which surround the barrow, occupies a small rise above the Dewley
Burn and is circular in plan and dome shaped in section. It is approximately
6m high and is 40m in diameter. The mound is of earth and stone construction.
The top of the mound has a hollow marking the location of an unrecorded
excavation in 1966. A Neolithic stone axe has been found in the mound. Flints
of Mesolithic and Neolithic date have been found on and around the mound.
Aerial photographs of the monument indicate that the barrow is surrounded by a
number of cropmarks. These include a circular cropmark, interpreted as a bank
and ditch immediately surrounding the barrow, a hut circle and a further
enclosing feature, believed to be a boundary bank and ditch enclosing the
raised ground around the barrow. Further circular cropmarks, interpreted as
hut circles, are evident in the north west corner of the field. These
surrounding features are also included in the scheduling.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
