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. Although the barrow has been partially altered by agricultural activity, it is
still visible as a slight earthwork and was also comparatively well-documented
during a campaign of fieldwork in the 19th century. Further evidence of the
structure of the mound, the surrounding ditch, grave pits and burials will
survive.
The monument is one of a closely associated group of barrows which have
further associations with broadly contemporary boundary earthworks in the
vicinity of Hanging Grimston. Similar groups of monuments are also known from
other parts of the Wolds and from the southern edge of North York Moors. Such
associations between monuments offer important scope for the study of the
division of land for social, ritual and agricultural purposes in different
geographichal areas during the prehistoric period. Additionally, some of the
barrows in the Hanging Grimston area are distributed parallel to a line later
adopted by a Roman road; this distribution implies a degree of continuity of
land-divisions from at least the Early Bronze Age into the Roman period.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow which is the north-easternmost of several
situated on Deepdale Wold and Hanging Grimston Wold. This barrow also lies
west of the later Roman road between Malton and Brough; the distribution of
Neolithic and Bronze Age burial mounds parallel to the road is evidence that
the Romans were continuing to use an established prehistoric route across the
Wolds.
Although altered by agricultural activity, the barrow is still visible as a
mound 0.3m high and 22m in diameter. A ditch, from which the material used to
construct the barrow was obtained, surrounds the mound and, although the ditch
has become infilled over the years and is no longer visible at ground level it
will survive as a buried feature.
The barrow was recorded and partially excavated by J R Mortimer in 1867; a
single cremation buried in a large urn was found beneath the centre of the
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:
20572
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Mortimer, J R , Forty Years Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds of East Yorkshire, (1905)
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.
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