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 Top Low bowl barrow located at the north-east end of a
broad ridge-top plateau with land sloping steeply down to the north and east.
It survives as a slightly mutilated oval mound of stone and earth up to 1m
high with maximum dimensions of 22m by 20m. A shallow central pit measuring
5m by 2m and 0.2m deep is a legacy of past investigation of the barrow. A
second, smaller, shallow pit of the same origin lies towards the southern end
of the barrow's centre. This limited antiquarian investigation of the barrow
located a variety of archaeological remains including 2 rock-cut graves, 2
cists, 6 inhumations, an animal inhumation, a cremation, pottery, artefacts of
bronze, flint and bone, antler tine and a human skull. Further limited
excavation occurred in 1927 when Pape re-dug some of the previously
investigated area and located disturbed inhumations, flints, pottery and
fragments of a polished axe.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13576
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
