Bowl barrow 600m north-west of Court Green Farm

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.

Although the bowl barrow has been subject to partial excavation in the past, the extent of disturbance is limited and archaeological deposits survive well. Evidence of the manner of construction, and the nature and duration of use will be preserved within and beneath the mound and within the ditch. Evidence relating to the Bronze Age environment around the monument and of the wider landscape will also survive. The importance of this monument is increased because of the survival of contemporary barrows in the vicinity; such evidence provides a clear indication of the extent of Bronze Age settlement and activity in the area.

Details

The monument comprises a bowl barrow of Bronze Age date , known as Court Green Howe, situated on the top of a hill near the edge of a scarp. The barrow mound measures 17m across and survives to a height of 1m. Several hollows at the centre of the mound represent the remains of partial excavation in the 19th and early 20th century; Bronze Age pottery and several flint tools were recovered from these excavations. The surrounding ditch, dug to provide the material to build the mound, is no longer visible at ground level but it survives as a buried feature measuring 2m across. The telegraph pole which stands on the south-east of the barrow is excluded from the scheduling, although 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:

20866

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Vyner, B E, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Bronze Age activity on the Eston Hills, Cleveland, (1991), 34-36
Vyner, B E, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Bronze Age activity on the Eston Hills, Cleveland, (1991), 35-36

Other
No. 0526,

End of official list entry

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