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.
Despite some limited disturbance of its central area, the barrow on Plush Hill
survives well and is a good example of its class. It will retain primary
archaeological material and environmental evidence sealed beneath the mound
and in the ditch fill. It is one of several monuments of a similar age in the
area and, as such, contributes information relating to the intensity of
settlement, nature of land use, burial practices and social structure of the
prehistoric community occupying this area of upland during the Bronze Age.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a bowl barrow situated on the summit of
Plush Hill, set on top of a small rocky ridge overlooking a steep sided
valley to the west. The monument is visible as a well defined turf covered
mound with a diameter of 13m, standing up to 1.2m high. The centre of the
mound has been disturbed by exploration at some time in the past creating a
roughly circular hollow 3.7m in diameter and 0.4m deep. Where the fabric of
the mound is exposed as a result of this disturbance it can be seen to be
constructed of small angular rubble and earth. Although not visible at surface
level, a ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of
the monument, surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but
survives as a buried feature 1m 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.
