Bowl barrow in Rendlesham Forest, 1300m west of Valley 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 forestry work has resulted in some disturbance of the surface of the mound, the barrow 1300m west of Valley Farm otherwise survives well. Evidence of the manner in which the barrow was constructed and used, of the duration of its use, and also of the local environment, prior to and at the time of its construction, will survive in the mound and in the soils buried beneath it. The significance of the monument is enhanced by the fact that it is one of at least three bowl barrows which survive in the area, the closest being 160m to the north-west.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow set on the edge of a slope overlooking Scotland Fens and The Tang to the north-east. The barrow has an earthen mound covering an area 17m in diameter and standing to a maximum height of 1.2m. The mound was probably once encircled by a ditch from which soil was dug and used in its construction. If so, this has become infilled and no trace of it is now visible on the ground surface. Evidence of such a ditch has, however, been noted in association with other barrow mounds in the surrounding area.

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:

21253

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry