Reasons for Designation
A small number of areas in southern England appear to have acted as foci for
ceremonial and ritual activity during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
periods. Two of the best known and earliest recognised, with references in the
17th century, are around Avebury and Stonehenge, now jointly designated as a
World Heritage Site. In the Avebury area, the henge monument itself, the West
Kennet Avenue, the Sanctuary, West Kennet long barrow, Windmill Hill
causewayed enclosure and the enigmatic Silbury Hill are well-known. Whilst the
other Neolithic long barrows, the many Bronze Age round barrows and other
associated sites are less well-known, together they define one of the richest
and most varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial monuments in the
country. 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, normally 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 and around 320 in the Avebury area. This group of
monuments will provide important information on the development of this area
during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. All surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Despite reduction by ploughing and partial excavation, the bowl barrow 230m
west of The Grange will contain archaeological and environmental remains
relating to the construction of the monument and the landscape in which it was
built.
Details
The monument includes a Bronze Age bowl barrow located 230m west of The
Grange, Beckhampton. The barrow is situated on an east-facing spur,
overlooking the Long Stones long barrow and the Beckhampton round barrow
cemetery, 1km to the east.
The barrow has been reduced by cultivation over the years but survives as a
visible mound 17m in diameter and up to 0.5m high. Surrounding the mound, but
no longer visible at ground level, is a quarry ditch from which material was
obtained during the construction of the monument. This survives as a buried
feature c.3m wide.
The barrow was partially excavated by Merewether during the 1800s and found to
contain a Bronze Age cremation burial. Several fragments of Roman pottery
(reported by Merewether to include samian ware) were discovered on the surface
of the mound, indicating later activity on the site.
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.
