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 monument includes a Bronze Age bowl barrow 500m south west of Hill Farm,
Lidstone. It forms the northern end of a line of three barrows located on a
ridge running from south west to north east, between the villages of Spelsbury
and Lidstone.
The barrow mound, much of which has been reduced by cultivation, is 32m across
and stands up to 0.6m high. The barrow lies on a field boundary which divides
the mound to the east and west. The western half is visible as a spread of
stones in the plough soil up to 0.4m high. The eastern half has been levelled
but its base will survive below the modern ploughsoil. Surrounding the mound
is a quarry ditch from which material was obtained during its construction.
This has become infilled over the years and is no longer visible at ground
level but will survive as a buried feature c.2m wide.
The barrow summit is the location of an Ordnance Survey trig point which is
now hidden in the hedgeline.
Excluded from the scheduling is the boundary fence running north to south
across the centre of the mound, although the land beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21842
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
