Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes one of seven bowl barrows situated on a rise in the
Lower Greensand and forming a dispersed linear round barrow cemetery aligned
north-west to south-east on Reigate Heath. The barrow has a mound with
dimensions of 22m east-west by 17m north-south and 1.2m high, the originally
circular mound having been cut away on the north side by Buckland Road.
Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during the
construction of the monument. This ditch is no longer visible at ground
level, having become infilled over the years, but survives to the east, south
and west of the mound as a buried feature c.3m wide.
This is thought to be one of the four barrows on Reigate Heath partially
excavated in 1809 prior to the planting of pine trees. In two of the mounds
burnt bones were found and in the largest barrow a circular hole 0.5m in
diameter and 0.4m deep containing ashes and charred wood was found dug into
the natural rock beneath the mound.
The length of metal railings and metal fencing around trees on the mound are
excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath these features
is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20161
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
