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. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring across most of lowland Britain. 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 reduction in its height through cultivation, the bowl barrow called 'Mabel Barrow', 400m south west of Higher Polgassic survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, longevity, funerary and ritual practices, territorial significance and overall landscape context.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, situated close to the summit of a coastal upland ridge overlooking Lantivet Bay. The barrow survives as a low circular mound which measures up to 28m in diameter and 1m high. It is cut on the western side by a road. The surrounding quarry ditch, from which material to construct the mound was derived, is preserved as a buried feature.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
CO 106
Legacy System:
RSM - OCN
End of official list entry
