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 Yearn's Low bowl barrow. It is located in a slight col on a
ridge, with higher ground to the east and west, and includes a mound of earth
and stones 19m in diameter and up to 1.5m high. Nineteenth century
investigation of the barrow's centre has left a hollow 0.8m deep; to the north
of this is a trench 0.5m deep resulting from a small excavation undertaken
during the 1970's. The antiquarian investigation located Roman coins, glass
beads and some bones. No finds are recorded from the more recent excavation
which was abandoned shortly after it began due to a change in the monument's
ownership. Two drystone walls which cross the barrow and meet south-east of
its summit are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them
is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22567
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
