Foster Howes bowl barrow (south) on Sneaton High Moor

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.

The southern bowl barrow of the three known as Foster Howes survives well in spite of earlier excavation. The mound shows traces of a kerb and a ditch and preserves archaeological evidence of both burials and the original ground surface.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow on Sneaton High Moor. It is the southern one of a line of three known as the Foster Howes. The mound is constructed of earth and stones and measures 20m in diameter and stands 2m high. It has been excavated leaving a hollow in the top which is 0.75m deep and 6.5m across. There are traces of a stone kerb at the base of the mound and a shallow surrounding ditch 2m wide. The mound has a boundary stone inserted in the hollow. The stone is rough-cut and marks the bounds of the present owners' lands. This boundary divided the parishes of Goathland and Sneaton and was established at some time during the medieval period.

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:

25650

Legacy System:

RSM

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