Two barrows known as 'Water Barrows' 650m WNW of Whiteway Farm: part of a round barrow cemetery to the south east of East Lulworth

Overview

Location

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.

Despite evidence for partial excavation, the two barrows known as 'Water Barrows', which are part of the round barrow cemetery to the south east of East Lulworth, have survived well and contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument includes two bowl barrows aligned north east-south west and situated on lowland heath close to the Dorset coast. Together they form part of a wider round barrow cemetery. The north eastern barrow mound is 2.9m high and 28m in diameter. The south western mound is 1.5m high and 24m across. Each mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction. The ditch of the south western barrow has become infilled over the years and cannot be seen at ground level. It does, however, survive as a buried feature c.4m wide. The ditch of the north eastern barrow can be seen as a depression 3m wide and 1m deep. Beyond this ditch is an external bank 2m wide. One of these barrows is thought to have been partially excavated in the last century when an urn was found. Between the two barrows and crossing the ditch area of the south western barrow is a post and wire fence. This is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath is included. The north eastern barrow is cut on its north side by a trackway. The track is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath is included.

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:

21939

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, , County of Dorset , (1970)
Grinsell, L V, 'Procs Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Soc.' in Dorset Barrows, (1959)

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.