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 and subsequent re-use as a look out post, the bowl barrow 800m north west of Gwenter Farm, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Goonhilly Downs, survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, territorial significance, social organisation, funerary and ritual practices, re-use and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, situated on the south eastern part of Goonhilly Downs, and is part of an extensive and dispersed round barrow cemetery. The barrow survives as a circular mound measuring up to 18m in diameter and 1.4m high with its surrounding quarry ditch, from which construction material was derived, preserved as a buried feature. There is a central hollow which may mark the site of an antiquarian excavation. It is approached from the east by a dog leg trench, indicating its possible re-use as a dug-out look out post during the Second World War, as seen elsewhere on Goonhilly Downs. The surrounding field was named as 'Burrow Croft' in 1840.
Other barrows which form part of the cemetery are scheduled separately.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-426647
