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.
Despite some disturbance, the barrow 100m north-east of Bodbury Ring survives
well and is a good example of this class of round barrow. It is one of several
monuments of a similar age in the area and, as such, contributes information
relating to the intensity of settlement, nature of land use, burial practices
and social structure of the prehistoric community occupying this area of
upland during the Bronze Age.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a bowl barrow situated on the highest
point of Bodbury Hill. The barrow is visible as a low, flat topped mound 12m
in diameter, of earth and stone construction. The top of the mound is
irregular and disturbed, probably as a result of exploration at some time in
the past. Although no longer visible at ground level, a ditch, from which
material was quarried during the construction of the monument, surrounds the
mound. This has become infilled over the years but will survive as a buried
feature some 2m wide.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
