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. The site at Misterton is a rare example in Leicestershire of an earthwork
barrow.
Details
The monument at Misterton includes an earthen barrow located 1.5m east of
Lutterworth and situated largely within a cultivated field but also
partly within a domestic garden.
The bowl barrow mound is roughly circular, about 40m in diameter following
plough spread, and is approximately 1m high within the cultivated field.
Aerial photography has shown the site to possess a surrounding ditch, although
this is not visible as an earthwork. A Prehistoric flint implement was found
adjacent to the site during archaeological field-walking. A second barrow
lies to the south but does not survive well and is not included in the
scheduling.
A domestic garden shed is excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath it 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:
17086
Legacy System:
RSM
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