Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow set on a hilltop position in a downland
setting on the coast of the southern side of the Isle of Wight. To the west
the land falls away to a valley which runs north-south. The barrow lies on the
highest point of the hill. This is one of ten barrows which made up the Week
Down cemetery. Only five of these now survive.
The barrow has a mound which measures 30m east-west and 27m north-south and is
c.0.5m high on the south side and c.1m high on the north side. Surrounding the
mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during its construction.
This has become infilled over the years and can no longer be seen at ground
level, but survives as a buried feature c.4m wide.
The barrow was the subject of an antiquarian excavation.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22018
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
