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 two bowl barrows within a barrow cemetery, located on a
spur of gravelly clay above the fens north east of Ramsey. The barrows are
visible as two circular earthen mounds under pasture. The larger of them
stands to a height of 0.65m and covers an area c.35m in diameter. The second
mound lies 8m north east of this and is c.0.5m in height and c.20m in
diameter. It is probable that both mounds are encircled by ditches from which
earth was dug and used in the construction of the barrows, but which have
become completely infilled. These ditches will survive as buried features.
A further five barrows which formed part of the same original cemetery are the
subject of a separate scheduling 300m to the south east.
A boundary fence which crosses the larger barrow east-west is excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath it is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20807
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
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
