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.
Details
White Cliff bowl barrow is situated in a prominent position overlooking Monsal
Dale on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes a roughly
circular cairn measuring 18m by 16m and standing c.1.5m high. The barrow is
believed to have been partially excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1851 when it
was found to contain a central limestone cist containing a pottery urn
inverted over the remains of a cremation and a burnt bone pin. Elsewhere in
the barrow another cist was found. This contained the crouched skeletons of
two adults and two children accompanied by a food vessel and a number of flint
implements. The crouched skeleton of a third adult was found close to the
latter cist while those of two more children were found north of the central
cist. Also found were the bones of a pig and a dog, scattered human bone, an
unidentified bone tool and a bronze fibula. The burial remains indicate a
Bronze Age date for the barrow while the fibula represents its re-use in the
Roman period. The barrow was also partially excavated by T A Harris in the
1920s or 30s. However, there is no published record of this event.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13380
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
