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. The barrow 740m west of Eastwoodlodge Farm survives well and retains important
archaeological information, the scale of disturbance resulting from the
digging of three holes into the mound being small in relation to the monument
as a whole. Evidence concerning the construction of the barrow, the manner and
duration of its use, and also the local environment, at and prior to the time
of its construction, will be preserved in the mound and in the soils buried
beneath it. The importance of the monument is enhanced by its proximity to a
second barrow, 225m to the south-west.
Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow sited above a north-facing slope
overlooking the estuary of the River Blyth. The barrow is visible as an
earthen mound covering a circular area c.22m in diameter and standing to a
maximum height of 1.1m. Near the centre is an irregular hollow in the surface,
measuring 4.5m by 4.5m by 0.8m deep, which marks the site of an old
excavation. On the south and south-eastern sides are two other, more sharply
defined rectangular holes, measuring 4.5m by 3m by 0.8m deep and 3m by 3m by
1m deep respectively. 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:
21278
Legacy System:
RSM
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