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. Despite limited antiquarian investigation of the monument's centre, the bowl
barrow 250m north of Hacking Boat House survives reasonably well. This
investigation located human remains, a flint artefact, pottery and animal
bones. Further evidence of interments and grave goods will exist within
the mound and upon the old landsurface beneath.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow located on the flood plain of the River
Ribble 250m north of Hacking Boat House. It includes an irregularly shaped
mound of earth and stones up to 2.5m high with maximum dimensions of 60m south
west-north east by 35m south east-north west. Limited antiquarian
investigation of the monument's centre in 1894 by members of Stoneyhurst
College located the primary burial consisting of a cairn of large stones
beneath which was a human cremation lying on a thin layer of charcoal. Three
secondary cremations were found nearby, one of which was accompanied by a
flint scraper and several pieces of pottery included one with thumb nail
decoration. A quantity of animal bones was also found. This investigation has
left a hollow approximately 9m in diameter and 1.7m deep at the monument's
centre and a `tail' or spread of excavated material on the barrow's south west
side. 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:
23711
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Luck, J R, 'Trans Lancs and Chesh Antiq Soc.' in , , Vol. 12, (1895), 27-31Other Darvill, T, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Bowl Barrows, (1989)
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.
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