Two bowl barrows at Osmaston Fields, north

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.

Although partially degraded by ploughing, both barrows at Osmaston Fields North are well-preserved and will contain largely intact deposits.

Details

The two bowl barrows are located in the northern part of Osmaston Fields, situated on the southern ridges of the Derbyshire Peak District. The monument includes both barrows within a single area and also the surrounding construction ditches which are buried beneath accumulated soil. The south- western barrow is a roughly circular mound measuring 27m by 26m and standing c.0.75m high. The north-eastern barrow is sub-circular and slightly smaller at 27m by 24m by c.0.6m high. Both barrows are of earth construction and have had their profiles gradually lowered by ploughing in the past. There has been no recorded excavation at either site but a Bronze Age date has been assigned to them as they form part of a scattered group of barrows, other examples of which have been found to contain Bronze Age remains.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 4 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:

13323

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)
Barnatt, J, The Peak District Barrow Survey (1989), (1989)
Marsden, B M, The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire , (1977), 81
Marsden, B M, The Burial Mounds of Derbyshire, (1986), 81
Heathcote, J P, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal in Ancient Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Derbyshire, Vol. 83, (1963), 96

End of official list entry

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