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 the damage from past ploughing the barrow 450m north-west of Felton
Farm survives well and remains a good example of this class of monument. It
will preserve archaeological evidence relating to the use and development of
the site and environmental evidence allowing an understanding of the landscape
in which it was constructed. The barrow is one of several similar monuments
which occur in this vicinity and, as such, contributes information relating to
the intensity of settlement, land use, burial practices and social structure
of the prehistoric community that occupied this area during the Bronze Age.
Details
The monument includes a large bowl barrow situated on the level ground between
the River Teme to the south-west and River Corve to the north-east. The barrow
comprises a well defined earthen mound 50m in diameter and up to 1.7m high.
The barrow is reduced and spread as a result of past ploughing but appears
otherwise undisturbed. Although not visible as a surface feature, a ditch,
from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument will
survive as a buried feature some 3m wide, sealed beneath the edge of the
plough spread mound. 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.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
19121
Legacy System:
RSM
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