Bowl barrow west of Castlegate Lane

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 this bowl barrow has been partially disturbed by excavation and p1oughing, it is still reasonably well-preserved and will include significant intact archaeological remains.

Details

The monument lies above Hay Dale on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire, 30m west of Castlegate Lane opposite its junction with Chertpit Lane. It includes a sub-circular barrow measuring 15m by 13.5m and surviving to a height of 0.75m. Originally the barrow would have stood slightly higher and been more uniformly circular but its form has been somewhat altered by ploughing. In 1851 Thomas Bateman carried out a partial excavation of the site and recovered, in addition to the scattered bones of several burials, a central skeleton which lay on limestone slabs and was accompanied by a pottery food vessel. The bones of an infant were also found, in addition to a number of flint artefacts. The burial remains indicate a Bronze Age date for the barrow.

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:

13381

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)
Bateman, T, Ten Years Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave-Hills, (1861), 74
Marsden, B M, The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire , (1977), 69
Manby, T G, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal in Food Vessels of the Peak District (1957), Vol. 77, (1957), 74

End of official list entry

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