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 some reduction in their heights through cultivation, the three bowl barrows 160m west of Little Hendra 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 three areas of protection, includes three bowl barrows, situated close to the summit of a ridge between two tributaries of the unnamed river leading to Polperro. The barrows survive as two circular mounds and one oval mound, surrounded by buried quarry ditches, from which the construction material was derived. The northern mound measures 40m in diameter and up to 1.7m high. The southern mound is 38m in diameter and 1.5m high. The eastern mound is oval and measures 40m long by 30m wide and up to 1m high. It is cut on the east side by a farm lane.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
CO 559
Legacy System:
RSM - OCN
End of official list entry
