Pair of bowl barrows 640m south of Bristol Plain Farm: part of a linear round barrow cemetery

Reasons for Designation

Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them, contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The two bowl barrows 640m south of Bristol Plain Farm survive comparatively well and, despite areas of localised disturbance possibly caused by previous excavation, contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating both to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. As well as being associated with other bowl barrows in the round barrow cemetery, numerous other burial monuments of the same date also survive in the area. Such evidence gives an indication of the intensity of occupation and the nature of social organisation present in the area during the Bronze Age period.

Details

The monument includes a pair of bowl barrows located on a slight rise 640m south of Bristol Plain Farm. The northern barrow [ST50235136] is visible as a barrow mound 19m in diameter and c.1m high at its highest point. A slight central depression may be the result of a previous excavation. The southern barrow [ST50265134] is visible as a barrow mound 20m in diameter and c.1.5m high at its highest point. A slight central depression may be the result of a previous partial excavation although no details are known. A hollow on the south east side may have been caused by stone quarrying. Although no longer visible at ground level a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument, surrounds each barrow mound. These have become infilled over the years but survive as buried features c.3m 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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13916

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Tratman, E K, University of Bristol Speleological Society in Barrow Catalogue, ()
Tratman, E K, University of Bristol Speleological Society in Barrow Catalogue, ()
Tratman, E K, Proceedings of the Univ of Bristol Speleological Society in Fieldwork, Vol. Vol 2(3), (1925), 284-5
Grinsell, L, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural Hist Soc in Somerset Barrows Part II, (1971), p. 114
Grinsell, L, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural Hist Soc in Somerset Barrows Part II, (1971), p. 114

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