Two barrows on Little Puddle Hill

Summary

Two bowl barrows 530m south-east of Holcombe Barn.

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 partial early excavation the two bowl barrows 530m south east of Holcombe Barn will retain further archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 7 January 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument, which falls into two areas, includes two bowl barrows situated on the summit of Little Puddle Hill overlooking Little Piddle Down and the dry valley of Little Puddle Bottom. The barrows survive as circular mounds surrounded by buried quarry ditches from which the construction material was derived. The western mound measures 12m in diameter and 1.6m high with a flattened top. It was excavated by Cunnington in the 19th century and produced a cairn covering five urned cremations three of which had been inverted. The eastern mound measures 17m in diameter and 3m high.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

DO 340

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-454747 and 1457295

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