Round Low bowl barrow

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 limited antiquarian investigation of the monument Round Low bowl barrow survives well. This investigation located human and faunal remains together with flint artefacts and pottery, and further similar evidence of interments and grave goods will exist within the mound and upon the old landsurface.

Details

The monument includes Round Low bowl barrow located on a local high point of a broad ridge top some 340m southeast of Oldfields Farm. It survives as an oval mound up to 1m high with maximum dimensions of 25m by 23m. Minor undulations on the eastern side of the summit indicate previous disturbance to the barrow. Limited antiquarian investigation located scattered bones, a cremation, animal teeth, pottery sherds, flint artefacts and pebbles. Secondary use of the barrow is attested by the finding of a piece of fused lead and sandstone boulders confirmed by the excavator as having been introduced later.

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:

13545

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Bateman, , Ten Years Digging (1861), (1861), 114

Other
Carrington, Barrow Diggers (Unpub MS with letters and notes), 1848,
Carrington, Barrow Diggers (Unpub MS with letters and notes), 1848,
Barnatt, J W, Peak District Barrow Survey, 1989, unpublished survey
Darvill,T., MPP Single Monument Class Description - Bowl Barrows, (1988)

End of official list entry

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