The Knoll: a bell barrow 300m west of Manor Farm

Reasons for Designation

Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows (particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a particularly rare form of round barrow, all identified bell barrows would normally be considered to be of national importance.

Details

The monument includes a bell barrow set on level ground in the valley of the River Wylye. The barrow mound is 26m in diameter and 3m high. Although no longer visible at ground level a berm c.10m wide and ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument, surround the mound. Both have become infilled over the years but the ditch survives as a buried feature 3m wide. The mound, berm and ditch have a maximum diameter of 52m.

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:

12312

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Johnston, D E, Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine in Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine, Vol. 72/73, (1980)

End of official list entry

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