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 disturbance caused by the insertion of a triangulation pillar on the
mound and construction of a reservoir immediately to the north, the bowl
barrow on Chaldon Down will contain archaeological remains and environmental
evidence relating to the cemetery and the landscape in which it was
constructed. This barrow is one of a number which survive on the chalk
downland of Chaldon Down.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow, forming part of a wider round barrow
cemetery, situated on chalk downland above the Dorset coast. The barrow lies
on the crest of a hill with views to the north, west and east over Chaldon
Down, and the sea to the south. A reservoir has been constructed immediately
to the north of the barrow mound, partly truncating it.
The surviving extent of the barrow mound measures 11.1m north-south, 14.3m
east-west and is 1m high. Originally surrounding the mound but no longer
surviving on the north side is a ditch from which material was quarried
during its construction. This has become infilled over the years and can no
longer be seen at ground level. It does, however, survive as a buried feature
c.3m wide. The post and wire fence which crosses the monument and the
triangulation point which lies on the top of the monument are 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.
