Two bowl barrows 1130m east of Lower Lapdown Farm

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. The two bowl barrows 1130m east of Lower Lapdown 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 includes two bowl barrows, situated on the upper north east-facing slopes of a ridge, overlooking the valley of a tributary to the By Brook. The barrows, which are linked by a low ridge, survive as two closely-located circular mounds surrounded by buried quarry ditches from which their construction material was derived. The south western barrow mound is 24m in diameter and 0.8m high, and the north eastern is 20m in diameter and 0.7m high. The connecting ridge measures approximately 16m wide and 0.4m high. In the past the presence of the ridge has caused some confusion and led to the various interpretations of the barrows as a bowl barrow and long barrow; a long barrow; or even three conjoined bowl barrows ( as noted by Witts in 1833) although generally most sources indicate only two bowl barrows are present.

Further archaeological features in the vicinity are the subject of separate schedulings.

Sources: PastScape 204811 South Gloucestershire HER 1973 and 4451

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

SG 46

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

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