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 some reduction in the heights of the mounds through cultivation, the four bowl barrows north of Greymare Farm forming part of a round barrow cemetery, survive well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, longevity, relative chronology, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument, which falls into four areas of protection, includes four bowl barrows, situated on the summit of a prominent branching ridge forming the watershed between the Rivers Fowey and Lerryn and directly overlooking the valley of the former river. The barrows form a linear arrangement. All four survive as circular mounds with individual buried surrounding quarry ditches from which the mound material was sourced. The western mound measures 15m in diameter and 1.7m high. The centre west barrow is 16m in diameter and 1.5m high. The centre east barrow is 14m in diameter and 1.2m high, and the easternmost mound measures 19m in diameter and 1.6m high.
This group of barrows forms part of a large round barrow cemetery. The other barrows within the group are the subject of separate schedulings.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-432726, 432729 and 432744
