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.
Details
The monument is located in the western uplands of the limestone plateau of
Derbyshire and is a roughly circular bowl barrow comprising a mound measuring
20m by 19m wide and standing c.1.6m high. The barrow, which is of cairn
construction, was disturbed by stone getters in the late eighteenth or early
nineteenth century; a fact noted by Thomas Bateman who carried out two partial
excavations of the site in 1849. During his first investigation, Bateman found
the remains of two burials: one an inhumation, the other a cremation. During
his second exploration, he found, at the west side of the barrow, three
inhumations, at least one of which was contracted, lying in rock-cut graves.
The contracted skeleton was accompanied by a partially serrated knife and a
spearpoint, both of flint, while one of the other two was accompanied by a
boar tusk, a piece of haematite, a flint tool and a jet bead found close to
the neck. Above the latter burial, closer to the surface of the mound, a
fourth skeleton was found in a cist or grave covered by a capstone and
accompanied by deer antlers and a flint point. A further flint implement and
the remains of an infant were found near the edge of the barrow. The remains
date the barrow to the Bronze Age.
The field walls crossing the edges of the monument are excluded from the
scheduling although the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
23285
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
