Saucer barrow 910m west of Cherhill Monument, Cherhill Down.

Reasons for Designation

Saucer barrows are funerary monuments of the Early Bronze Age, most examples dating to between 1800 and l200 BC. They occur either in isolation or in barrow cemeteries (closely-spaced groups of round barrows). They were constructed as a circular area of level ground defined by a bank and internal ditch and largely occupied by a single low, squat mound covering one or more burials, usually in a pit. The burials, either inhumations or cremations, are sometimes accompanied by pottery vessels, tools and personal ornaments. Saucer barrows are one of the rarest recognised forms of round barrow, with about 60 known examples nationally, most of which are in Wessex. The presence of grave goods within the barrows provides important evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst prehistoric communities over a wide area of southern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a rare and fragile form of round barrow, all identified saucer barrows would normally be considered to be of national importance.

Despite evidence for partial excavation, the saucer barrow 910m west of Cherhill Monument survives well as one of a group of three round barrows in close proximity to each other at the western end of Cherhill Down. A good example of an unusual class of monument its significance is further increased by its close relationship to the other monuments. It has good potential for the recovery of archaeological material and for environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which the monument was constructed.

Details

The monument includes a saucer barrow, one of three barrows set on a false crest towards the west end of a steep sided chalk spur. The barrow is circular with an overall diameter of 17m and comprises a central mound l0m in diameter and up to 0.3m high. The central area of this is hollowed to a depth of 0.1m, possibly as a result of early exploration of the mound. Surrounding the mound is a narrow ditch 0.5m wide and 0.1m deep from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. Surrounding both mound and ditch is a continuous outer bank 3m wide and 0.2m high constructed along the outer edge of the ditch.

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:

19035

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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