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. 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. Despite reduction in the heights of the mounds through past cultivation, the two bowl barrows 250m west of Silverwell Farm survive well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes two bowl barrows situated on the summit of a ridge, overlooking the valley of a tributary to the river leading to Polwheveral Creek. The barrows survive as circular mounds surrounded by buried quarry ditches, from which the construction material was derived. The north eastern barrow measures approximately 24m in diameter and 1.1m high. The south western barrow is 20m in diameter and 0.4m high with a central protruding stone slab which may represent part of a cist. Some stones removed during field clearance have been placed on this stone. First depicted on the 1907 Ordnance Survey map, they were described by Henderson in 1937 who said they lay on either side of the 'Old Dead Lane' or Ridgeway which divided the parishes of Wendron and Constantine.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
CO 976
Legacy System:
RSM - OCN
End of official list entry
