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 early partial excavation, the bowl barrow 315m ESE of Leech Pool, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Goonhilly Downs, survives well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, territorial significance, social organisation, funerary and ritual practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, situated on the high plateau called Goonhilly Downs, which forms part of a dispersed and extensive round barrow cemetery. The barrow survives as a circular mound measuring up to 27m in diameter and 1.9m high. The surrounding quarry ditch, from which material to construct the mound was derived, is preserved as a buried feature. There is a trench across the top of the mound. The barrow was first recorded by Thomas in 1851 and recorded on the 1907 Ordnance Survey map.
Further barrows, which form part of the cemetery, are the subject of separate schedulings.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-427452
