Setta Barrow and three round barrows to the south

Summary

Four bowl barrows including Setta Barrow and three further bowl barrows 33m, 134m and 370m to the south.

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 construction of a field boundary and some reduction in the heights of the mounds through cultivation, Setta Barrow and the three bowl barrows to the south survive well and will contain important archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, use and landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 3 November 2015. 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 four areas includes four bowl barrows situated at the summit of a high, prominent ridge forming the watershed between tributaries to the River Barle and River Bray. Setta Barrow survives as an oval flat topped mound measuring up to 31.4m long, 30m wide and 2.8m high. It has a stone built retaining kerb measuring up to 0.6m high. Surrounding the mound is a partially buried outer ditch measuring up to 3m wide and 0.1m deep. It has a central excavation hollow and is crossed by a field boundary. The remaining three barrows lie to the south of Setta Barrow and survive as circular mounds which vary in diameter from 14m to 28m and from 0.6m to 0.8m high. The surrounding quarry ditches from which material to construct the mounds was derived survive as buried features up to 3m wide. Other associated barrows survive within the vicinity of this monument. Some are scheduled, but others are not because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

DV 209

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-35008, 35033, 35034 and 35052

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