Group of seven round barrows 380m east of East Water Drove (Part of Priddy Nine Barrows Cemetery)

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.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13823

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Tratman, E K, Proceedings of the Univ of Bristol Speleological Society in Fieldwork, Vol. Vol 2(3), (1925), 284-5
Grinsell, L, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural Hist Soc in Somerset Barrows Part II, Vol. Vol 115, (1971), 113

Other
ST55SW74, RCHME NAR, REF ST55SW74,

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry