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 re-use as dug outs during the Second World War, the three bowl barrows 815m north west of Leech Pool, forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Goonhilly Downs,
survive comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices, adaptive re-use and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument, which falls into three areas of protection, includes three bowl barrows, situated on the north western side of Goonhilly Downs. They form part of a dispersed and extensive round barrow cemetery. The barrows survive as circular mounds, surrounded by buried quarry ditches, from which the construction material was derived. All were actively re-used as dug out look-out posts during the Second World War when the surrounding area was covered with small mounds acting as glider traps. The eastern barrow measures up to 26m in diameter and 1.1m high. Its top has a central hollow and a further depression and trench on the western side. The northern barrow is 21m in diameter and 1.6m high with a complete retaining kerb of stones. On the southern side is a hollow with the remains of wooden posts and corrugated sheeting, approached from the west by a narrow dog leg trench. There is a further hollow on the north side. The western barrow stands up to 24m in diameter and 1.5m high and is built over a rock outcrop. It has a central hollow.
Further barrows, which form the round barrow cemetery, are the subject of separate schedulings.
Sources: HER:-
PastScape Monument No:-427449 and 427446
