Bowl barrow 350m south west of Furze Platt Farm in Blenheim Great Park

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 partial excavation, the bowl barrow 350m south west of Furze Platt Farm will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction and the landscape in which it was built.

Details

The monument includes a Bronze Age bowl barrow situated on a gentle ridge running north-south in open parkland, 350m south west of Furze Platt Farm on the Blenheim Estate. The barrow mound measures 14m in diameter and stands up to 0.3m high. There is a slight depression c.1m across and 0.1m deep in the centre of the mound. This may represent an early excavation of the site. Surrounding the mound, but no longer visible at ground level, is a quarry ditch from which material was obtained during its construction. This has become infilled over the years but will survive as a buried feature c.2m wide.

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:

21814

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Title: Ordnance Survey 1:10560 Source Date: 1930 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: SP 41 NW
9.033-4, FAIREY, Air Photograph, (1961)
PRN 12,743 Note 2, C.A.O., Small circular enclosure, (1980)
PRN 12,743 Note 3, C.A.O., Small circular enclosure, (1980)
PRN 12,743 Note 1, C.A.O., Small circular enclosure, (1980)

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