Round barrow 1100m NW of Beacon Farm

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.

This barrow survives well and is not known to have been disturbed by early excavators. It will retain significant information on the form of the mound and the burials placed within it. With other barrows on the moors it provides an insight into the nature of Bronze Age ritual activity in this area.

Details

The monument includes a prehistoric round barrow situated on an area of open flat moor. The barrow mound is constructed of earth and stone and has a diameter of 20m. It survives to a height of 1.5m and has an uneven profile. Although no longer visible, a ditch, from which material was excavated during the construction of the monument, surrounds the barrow mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature 2m wide. The mound is not known to have been excavated. The barrow is one of a large group of burial mounds on this area of moorland.

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:

21067

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
09135, North Yorkshire SMR (09135), (1990)

End of official list entry

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