Eight of a group of round barrows on Silk Hill

Overview

Location

Reasons for Designation

The most complete and extensive survival of chalk downland archaeological remains in central southern England occurs on Salisbury Plain, particularly in those areas lying within the Salisbury Plain Training Area. These remains represent one of the few extant archaeological "landscapes" in Britain and are considered to be of special significance because they differ in character from those in other areas with comparable levels of preservation. Individual sites on Salisbury Plain are seen as being additionally important because the evidence of their direct association with each other survives so well. Some 470 round barrows, funerary monuments dating to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, are known to have existed in the Salisbury Plain Training Area, many grouped together as cemeteries. The total includes some 70 barrows of rare types. Such is the quality of the survival of the archaeological landscape, over 300 of these barrows have been identified as nationally important.

Details

The eight barrows within this scheduled area are false crested along the southern side of Silk Hill's summit. They form an approximate line with other barrows to the west and south-east. They are exceptionally well preserved. 1 - A ditched bowl barrow, c.34m overall diameter. The ditch is connected to that of an adjacent barrow. (SU18964693) 2 - A ditched bowl barrow, c.31m overall diameter. The ditch is cut by the ditches of adjacent barrows. (SU18954691) 3 - A ditched bowl barrow, c.42m overall diameter. The ditch cuts/connects with that of an adjacent barrow. (SU18994690) 4 - A bowl barrow with a ditch 4m wide and an overall diameter of c.48m. Partial excavation in the 19th century revealed a primary cremation with a bronze dagger, two whetstones and a pin. It also left a deep hole in the top. (SU19034690) 5 - A ditched bowl barrow, c.42m overall diameter. The ditch is probably overlain by the bank of an adjacent barrow. (SU19134687) 6 - A ditched bowl barrow, 17m overall diameter. This barrow is now only just visible. It has been ploughed in the past. (SU19174687) 7 - A disc or saucer barrow: there is no mound but a central platform, ditch and outer bank. The overall diameter is c.40m. Partial excavation in the 19th century revealed a primary cremation off centre. (SU19104689) 8 - A pond barrow, 28m overall diameter. The north-east corner connects with the ditch of an adjacent barrow. Partial excavation in the 19th century revealed a collared urn with a cremation and bone ornament, flint and iron pyrites. (SU19074687)

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

10148

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Trust for Wessex Archaeology, (1987)
Wiltshire Library & Museum Service, (1987)

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 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.