Reasons for Designation
Round barrow cemeteries date to the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). They comprise
closely-spaced groups of up to 30 round barrows - rubble or earthen mounds
covering single or multiple burials. Most cemeteries developed over a
considerable period of time, often many centuries, and in some cases acted as
a focus for burials as late as the early medieval period. They exhibit
considerable diversity of burial rite, plan and form, frequently including
several different types of round barrow, occasionally associated with earlier
long barrows. Where large scale investigation has been undertaken around them,
contemporary or later "flat" burials between the barrow mounds have often been
revealed. Round barrow cemeteries occur across most of lowland Britain, with a
marked concentration in Wessex. In some cases, they are clustered around other
important contemporary monuments such as henges. Often occupying prominent
locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape, whilst
their diversity and their longevity as a monument type provide important
information on the variety of beliefs and social organisation amongst early
prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period
and a substantial proportion of surviving or partly-surviving examples are
considered worthy of protection.
The `Priddy Nine Barrows' linear round barrow cemetery survives well despite
small areas of localised disturbance caused by partial excavation of some of
the round barrows. The survival of the barrow mounds and the fills of the
barrow ditches give the cemetery potential for the recovery of archaeological
and environmental evidence relating both to the monument and the landscape in
which it was constructed. The areas between the barrow mounds appears to
survive undisturbed and is believed likely to contain further burials in the
form of flat graves and urnfields in addition to evidence for Bronze Age
occupation. The importance of the monument is enhanced by its association with
a second linear round barrow cemetery 300m to the north, as well as its
proximity to the `Priddy Circles' 750m to the north. Numerous other burial
monuments of the same date also survive in the area. Such evidence gives an
indication of the intensity of occupation and the nature of social
organisation present in the area during the Bronze Age period.
Details
The monument includes seven bowl barrows set on the crest of North Hill 380m
east of East Water Drove. The barrows are seven of nine forming a linear
barrow cemetery aligned on a north to southeast axis and known as `Priddy Nine
Barrows'.
[ST53845157] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 12m in diameter and c.0.75m high
at its highest point. Although no longer visible at ground level a ditch,
from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument,
surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a
buried feature c.2m wide. A slight central depression may mark the site of a
partial excavation by B.M.Skinner in 1815. Finds of ash and charcoal were
reported at a depth of nearly 1m.
[ST53865153] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 27m in diameter and c.3m high at
its highest point. Although no longer visible at ground level, a quarry ditch
surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as
a buried feature c.3m wide. A slight central depression may mark the site of
a previous excavation.
[ST53885151] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 24m in diameter and c.3.5m high
at its highest point. Although no longer visible at ground level, a quarry
ditch surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but
survives as a buried feature c.2m wide. The mound has a flat top, with a
slight central depression which may mark the site of a previous excavation.
[ST53915148] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 24m in diameter and c.2.5m high.
Although no longer visible at ground level, a quarry ditch surrounds the
barrow mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried
feature c.3m wide. A slight central depression may mark the site of a
previous excavation.
[ST53955147] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 22m in diameter and c.1m high at
its highest point. A quarry ditch surrounds the barrow mound. This has become
partially infilled over the years but survives as a depression 1.5m wide and
0.25m deep. The barrow mound is heavily disturbed, possibly by previous
excavation or quarrying.
[ST53975146] Bowl barrow comprising a mound 22m in diameter and c.2.5m high
at its highest point. A quarry ditch surrounds the barrow mound. This has
become partially infilled over the years but survives as a shallow depression
2m wide and c.0.25m deep. A low bank 0.75m wide and c.0.25m high lies
outside the ditch. A central cross-shaped depression with improved grass
growth on the top of the barrow mound may indicate the re-use of the mound for
a medieval post-mill or may mark the site of a previous excavation.
The southernmost of the seven bowl barrows [ST53995145] comprises a mound 22m
in diameter and c.3m high at its highest point. Although no longer visible
at ground level, a quarry ditch surrounds the barrow mound. This has become
infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature c.3m wide. An
Ordnance Survey triangulation point formerly stood on top of the mound.
The modern field boundary of a dry stone wall and post and wire fence is
excluded from the scheduling, however the ground beneath it 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.
