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
and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
Details
The monument is a bowl barrow located on flat land 500m south of Home Farm. It
includes an oval turf mound up to 1m high with maximum dimensions of 35m by
31m. Limited antiquarian investigation at the centre of the barrow located an
urn containing human remains. The central area was re-excavated in 1982/3 and
revealed the monument to be of two phases. In the latter phase two pits had
been cut into the subsoil and each surrounded by a ring of stakeholes. Radio
carbon dating of material from one of the stakeholes dated this to around
900 BC. Backfill from the antiquarian investigation produced a volume of finds
including substantial remains of 6 decorated pots, a barbed and tanged flint
arrowhead and a trimming flake from a Neolithic polished axe.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22585
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
