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. The two bowl barrows 200m north west of Fox Covert, forming part of a round barrow cemetery, survive well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to their construction, relative chronologies, territorial significance, social organisation, ritual and funerary practices and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument, which falls into two areas of protection, includes two bowl barrows situated on the eastern side of Goonhilly Downs. They form part of a large and dispersed round barrow cemetery. The barrows survive as circular mounds surrounded by buried quarry ditches, from which the construction material was derived. Both mounds incorporate part of a natural rock outcrop. The south eastern mound measures 17.5m in diameter and 1.3m high. The north western mound measures 17m in diameter and 1.5m high.
Other barrows forming the cemetery are the subject of separate schedulings.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
CO 565
Legacy System:
RSM - OCN
End of official list entry
