Bowl barrow on Withery Low

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 the surface of the north-eastern bowl barrow on Withery Low has been robbed, archaeological remains will survive intact on the old land surface beneath the barrow on which burials will have been placed.

Details

Withery Low, also known as Withered Low, is part of Wormhill Moor and lies north of Wye Dale on the limestone plateau of Derbyshire. The monument includes the north-eastern of a pair of barrows spaced c.50m apart on the summit of the hill. The barrow consists of a sub-circular cairn measuring 17m by 13m by 0.6m high. It is situated on the edge of an outcrop and the surface of the mound has been robbed of its stone, probably by wall-builders at the time of the Enclosure Acts. It is possible that this is one of the barrows on Withery Low partially excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1846. However, Bateman's account is unclear on this point. The general appearance and location of the barrow, and its proximity to others of this class, indicate that it dates to the Bronze Age.

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:

13352

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)

End of official list entry

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