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.
Details
The two bowl barrows at Pilsbury are sub-circular cairns located c.10m apart
on a hilltop within the western upland ridges of the limestone plateau of
Derbyshire. The monument includes both barrows within a single constraint
area. The larger measures 19m by 14m and survives to a height of c.1.5m while
the smaller, situated to the ESE measures 11m by 9m by c.0.5m high and is
flatter in profile. The larger was partially excavated by Bateman in 1847 and
found to contain two contracted skeletons within a natural fissure covered by
inclined stones. These and a cremation burial placed at the foot of one of
the inhumations indicate a Bronze Age date. The second barrow has not been
excavated and its deposits are therefore largely intact though it has suffered
some slight disturbance through stone-robbing, probably for wall stone, in the
early nineteenth century. An Anglian secondary burial inserted into the
larger barrow indicates its re-use in the early medieval period.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13310
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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
