Bowl barrow on Hergan Hill, 530m north west of Myndtown

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.

Despite being reduced by ploughing in its northern quarter the bowl barrow on Hergan Hill is a good example of its class. It will contain archaeological evidence relating to the construction of the barrow and its subsequent use. Environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which it was constructed will be preserved sealed beneath the mound and in the ditch fill. It is one of a group of similar monuments occurring in this vicinity and so contributes valuable information relating to the land use, social structure and burial practices of the prehistoric community occupying this area of landscape during the Bronze Age.

Details

The monument includes a bowl barrow situated above a west-facing slope, on a false crest below the summit of Hergan Hill. The barrow mound is well defined with dimensions of 22m south west to north east by 16m transversely and stands to a height of 1.7m. The barrow is crossed in its north west quadrant by a hedge bank and to the north of this the barrow has been reduced by past ploughing to a low mound 0.2m high. Although no longer visible as a surface feature, a ditch 2m wide, from which the material would have been quarried for the construction of the barrow, surrounds the mound. The section of hedge bank, hedge and fence crossing the barrow are excluded from the scheduling though the ground beneath is included.

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:

19164

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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