Bowl barrow 155m east of Sheep Drift 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.

Although the barrow 155m east of Sheep Drift Farm has suffered some damage caused by falling trees, the disturbance is superficial and the monument survives well. Evidence of the manner in which the barrow was constructed and used, of the duration of its use and of the local environment at the time of and prior to its construction will be preserved in the mound and in the soils buried beneath it. The importance of this monument is enhanced by the fact that it is situated close to another barrow which lies 30m to the north-east, and that both are among the several which remain of a large group of barrows recorded in the area.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow which is visible as a mound standing to a maximum height of 2m and covering an area 20m in diameter. Although there is no trace on the ground surface of a ditch encircling the mound, it is probable that such a ditch exists as a buried feature.

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:

21261

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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