Saucer barrow on Spring Hill

Reasons for Designation

Saucer barrows are funerary monuments of the Early Bronze Age, most examples dating to between 1800 and l200 BC. They occur either in isolation or in barrow cemeteries (closely-spaced groups of round barrows). They were constructed as a circular area of level ground defined by a bank and internal ditch and largely occupied by a single low, squat mound covering one or more burials, usually in a pit. The burials, either inhumations or cremations, are sometimes accompanied by pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. Saucer barrows are one of the rarest recognised forms of round barrow, with about 60 known examples nationally, most of which are in Wessex. The presence of grave goods within the barrows provides important evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst prehistoric communities over a wide area of southern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a rare and fragile form of round barrow, all identified saucer barrows would normally be considered to be of national importance.

Despite erosion to the bank and ditch caused by landslip on the monument's south-east side, the saucer barrow on Spring Hill survives well. It is a rare example of this class of monument found beyond southern England and will contain undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mound and upon the old landsurface.

Details

The monument consists of a saucer barrow located at the south-eastern end of the summit of Spring Hill. It includes an oval earthen mound up to 0.5m high with maximum dimensions of 20.5m by 17m. Surrounding the mound on all sides except the south-east is a bank and ditch; the ditch is 1.7m wide and up to 0.3m deep, the bank measures 4.7m wide and is 0.3m high. The monument is not known to have been excavated. A concrete post embedded in the mound is included in the scheduling because its removal would cause disturbance to the archaeological remains.

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:

22423

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Fancy Barrows, (1988)

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