Two bowl barrows 700m north-west of High Court Green

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 barrows have sustained some damage by cultivation in the past, much of their archaeological deposits survive intact. Evidence of the manner of construction, and the nature and duration of use will be preserved within and beneath the mounds and within the ditches. 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, of similar and different form, in the immediate vicinity; such evidence provides a clear indication of the extent of Bronze Age settlement and activity in the area and has the potential to increase greatly our knowledge of Bronze Age society.

Details

The monument includes two bowl barrows of Bronze Age date situated on a south facing slope. The first barrow measures 9m across and survives to a height of 20cm. The surrounding ditch, dug to provide the material to build the mound, is no longer visible at ground level but survives as a buried feature measuring 2m across. The second mound, situated at a distance of 10m to the north-west, measures 10m in diameter and stands to a height of 30cm. The surrounding ditch, dug to provide the material to build the mound is no longer visible at ground level but survives as a buried feature measuring 2m across.

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:

20862

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Vyner, B E, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Bronze Age activity on the Eston Hills, Cleveland, (1991), 25-49
Vyner, B E, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Bronze Age activity on the Eston Hills, Cleveland, (1991), 47

Other
No. 1322, (1988)
No. 1323, (1988)

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