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 includes a bowl barrow situated on the crest of Birdsall Wold,
near the head of Vessey Pasture Dale. The barrow is one of a number of
prehistoric monuments on Birdsall Wold.
Although altered over the years by agricultural activity, the barrow still
survives to a height of about 0.5m, with a diameter of 30m and the circular
outline of a 20m diameter buried ditch surrounding the mound is visible on
aerial photographs. The ditch will have been dug to provide material for the
construction of the mound and, since then, agricultural activity has caused
the edges of the mound to spread gradually over the top of the ditch.
The barrow was recorded and partially excavated by J R Mortimer in 1866 who
recovered the contents of a central grave; any burials at the periphery of the
mound and the infilled ditch are thought to remain intact.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20481
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
