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 most
rich and varied areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and ritual
monuments in the country. Long barrows were constructed as earthen or drystone
mounds with flanking ditches and acted as funerary monuments during the Early
and Middle Neolithic periods (3400-2400 BC). They represent the burial places
of Britain's early farming communities and, as such, are amongst the oldest
field monuments surviving visibly in the present landscape. Where
investigated, long barrows appear to have been used for communal burial, often
with only parts of the human remains having been selected for interment.
Certain sites provide evidence for several phases of funerary monument
preceding the barrow and it is probable that long barrows acted as important
ritual sites for local communities over a considerable period of time. Some
500 long barrows are recorded in England of which fifteen survive in the
Avebury area. These represent an important group for understanding the
historical context within which Avebury developed during the Late Neolithic
and Early Bronze Age periods; all are considered to be worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a Neolithic long barrow aligned north east to south west
and situated on a gentle east-facing slope, 300m south west of the South
Street long barrow.
The barrow mound has been slightly disturbed by cultivation in the past but
survives as an impressive earthwork which measures 84m long and 35m wide. The
mound stands up to 6m high and is flanked to the north and south by quarry
ditches which provided material for the construction of the mound. These have
become partially infilled over the years owing to cultivation but survive as
slight earthworks c.24m wide and 84m long with a depth of c.0.6m.
The barrow was partially excavated by Merewether between 1820 and 1850. He
discovered evidence of a Bronze Age cremation burial contained in a 'Deverel-
Rimbury' style pottery urn and a piece of bronze which was probably part of a
dagger. The urn is now located in the Devizes Museum.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21734
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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.
End of official list entry
