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 minor surface disturbance the bowl barrow 350m south-west of Merryton
Low survives reasonably well. It is a rare survival in the Peak District of
an unexcavated example of this class of monument and will contain undisturbed
archaeological deposits within the mound and upon the old landsurface.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow located in a slight col 350m south-west of
Merryton Low. It survives as a flat-topped slightly oval earthen mound up to
0.8m high with maximum dimensions of 12m by 11m. There is a sub-rectangular
pit measuring 5m by 3m and up to 0.3m deep east of centre. The monument is
not known to have been excavated. 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:
22415
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)Other Darvill, T, MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Bowl Barrows (1988), (1988)
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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